stepping up efforts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stepping up efforts" is correct and usable in written English.
It means to increase your efforts or to make greater efforts towards some goal or objective. For example: The company is stepping up efforts to increase efficiency and reduce costs.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In particular, it would involve stepping up efforts to detect corruption and money laundering.

The Economist

Recently the government has been stepping up efforts to eradicate such abuses.

The Economist

At the time, Washington was stepping up efforts to penetrate Libya's bomb program.

The New York Times

The United Nations peacekeepers here seem to be stepping up efforts to protect women.

The New York Times

Westchester itself is stepping up efforts to find alternatives to traditional energy sources.

The New York Times

Since the hurricanes, forward-looking farmers are stepping up efforts to close the gap.

The New York Times - Food

Facebook and Twitter have said they are stepping up efforts to disable fake accounts.

The New York Times - Tech

Mr. Kan applauded the central bank Wednesday, saying its action showed it was "stepping up efforts to fight deflation".

The New York Times

So China may think that stepping up efforts to shut that down would not be in its interest.

The Economist

European policy makers are also stepping up efforts to develop "clusters" of high-technology innovation from the ground up.

The New York Times - Tech

The government was also stepping up efforts to stop deforestation, raising its target for tree cover to 15% by 2020.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "stepping up efforts", ensure the context clearly indicates what specific actions are being intensified to achieve the desired outcome. This provides clarity and strengthens the impact of your message.

Common error

Avoid using "stepping up efforts" without specifying the area of focus. Vague applications can diminish the phrase's impact. Instead of saying "The company is stepping up efforts", specify "The company is stepping up efforts to improve customer service".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stepping up efforts" functions as a verb phrase, typically used as part of a predicate to describe an action being taken to increase activity towards a specific goal. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread and correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "stepping up efforts" is a grammatically sound and widely used verb phrase indicating an increase in activity or dedication towards a specific goal. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is deemed correct and applicable across numerous reliable sources. Its versatility allows for use in neutral, professional, and even scientific contexts. For optimal usage, be clear about what specific actions are being intensified. Alternatives like "increasing efforts" or "intensifying efforts" can be used to add nuance or formality. Remember to avoid vagueness by always specifying the focus of the increased activity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increasing efforts

Emphasizes the act of making efforts greater; less idiomatic than the original.

boosting efforts

Suggests energizing or enhancing the current efforts.

intensifying efforts

Highlights the strengthening or heightening of existing efforts.

enhancing initiatives

Focuses on improving specific projects or plans rather than general exertion.

amplifying initiatives

Implies enlarging or broadening the scope of current initiatives.

redoubling efforts

Suggests renewing efforts with increased vigor and determination.

strengthening measures

Emphasizes reinforcing policies and actions already in place.

escalating actions

Suggests a gradual increase in the intensity of steps taken.

augmenting endeavors

Implies adding to or supplementing existing endeavors to make them more effective.

bolstering initiatives

Focuses on providing support or reinforcement to existing initiatives.

FAQs

How can I use "stepping up efforts" in a sentence?

You can use "stepping up efforts" to describe an increase in activity towards a goal. For example, "The organization is "stepping up efforts" to reduce its carbon footprint".

What's a more formal alternative to "stepping up efforts"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "intensifying efforts" or "escalating actions" to convey a similar meaning with a higher degree of formality.

Is "stepping up efforts" grammatically correct?

Yes, "stepping up efforts" is grammatically correct and commonly used in both written and spoken English. It functions as a verb phrase indicating increased activity.

What's the difference between "stepping up efforts" and "maintaining efforts"?

"Stepping up efforts" indicates an increase in activity or dedication, while "maintaining efforts" suggests continuing the current level of activity without significant change.