strained efforts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "strained efforts" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe attempts that are difficult, forced, or require significant struggle to achieve a goal. Example: "Despite their strained efforts to complete the project on time, they ultimately missed the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

In the case of equipment that was severely strained, efforts in technical fine-tuning have been improved, such as decreasing the speed of the stirring units.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

The first part of "American Woman" tells of Jenny's strained efforts to help.

The New York Times - Books

But there is something cloying about the strained efforts to ensure that the book is never boring.

The New York Times - Books

There's a reason that the Bush administration, in its (increasingly strained) efforts to tout economic performance on its watch, always talks about jobs added since August 2003.

The New York Times

Large sections of the book consist of rote, familiar chronology, with occasional attempts at contextualizing, including some strained efforts to link the success of "Idol" to the post-9/11 mood in America.

The New York Times - Books

The latest in HBO's fine summer documentary films series, "THE RECRUITER" (9 p.m. Monday), profiles Sgt. First Class Clay Usie and his strained efforts to enlist soldiers in the United States Army.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

But the Q7 is so quiet, so smooth and effortless in the way it goes about its business, that the sound of mildly strained effort from below the bonnet feels more out of keeping than it would almost anywhere else.

Independent

The disappearance from the E.U. of one of its major military powers could further strain efforts at Europe-wide defense cooperation, whether through the E.U. or N.A.T.O.

Huffington Post

A 2007 U.S. Government report concluded that inspections of travelers arriving from Cuba may strain efforts to keep out terrorists and criminals from entering the country.

Huffington Post

Other European think tanks believe that "While the shared links between the U.S. and E.U. mean the two are likely to work around a Brexit, the disappearance from the E.U. of one of its major military powers could further strain efforts at Europe-wide defense cooperation, whether through the E.U. or NATO.

Huffington Post

A small amount of the intestinal lining becomes forced out of the anus with the excessive and continuous straining efforts.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "strained efforts" when you want to emphasize that an attempt to achieve something is difficult, requires significant exertion, or is not proceeding smoothly. It highlights the struggle involved.

Common error

Avoid using "strained efforts" when simpler, more direct language would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound overly dramatic or forced. For instance, instead of saying "their strained efforts to open the door", you might simply say "their difficulty opening the door".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "strained efforts" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "strained" modifies the noun "efforts". This combination typically describes attempts that are difficult, forced, or require significant struggle. Ludwig AI shows these attempts could be related to many areas such as, peace negociations, humanitarian aid or strain engineering

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "strained efforts" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that effectively conveys difficulty and exertion in attempts to achieve a goal. Ludwig AI confirms that it is appropriate for diverse contexts ranging from news reports to scientific literature and formal business communications. While "strained efforts" is considered a common phrase, you can use alternatives such as "difficult endeavors" or "arduous attempts" to better suit your writing context. Be mindful of overusing the expression to avoid sounding overly dramatic and ensure clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

struggling attempts

Directly conveys the sense of difficulty and lack of success.

arduous attempts

Replaces 'strained' with 'arduous', highlighting the difficulty and labor involved.

difficult endeavors

Substitutes both words, focusing on the challenging nature of the undertakings.

laborious undertakings

Emphasizes the effort and hard work required.

challenging initiatives

Replaces 'efforts' with 'initiatives', emphasizing the proactive nature, while 'challenging' mirrors 'strained'.

forced attempts

Highlights the artificial or unnatural nature of the attempts.

taxing endeavors

Focuses on the draining or exhausting nature of the efforts.

overextended attempts

Implies that the attempts are pushing the limits or resources.

demanding tasks

Highlights the rigorous and exacting nature of the tasks undertaken.

tough assignments

An informal way to convey the difficulty and demanding nature of the work.

FAQs

How can I use "strained efforts" in a sentence?

You can use "strained efforts" to describe attempts that involve difficulty or require significant exertion, such as "Despite their strained efforts to complete the project on time, they missed the deadline."

What are some alternatives to "strained efforts"?

Alternatives include "arduous attempts", "difficult endeavors", or "struggling attempts", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "strained efforts" formal or informal?

"Strained efforts" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is more common in formal writing or when emphasizing the difficulty of a situation.

What's the difference between "strained efforts" and "earnest attempts"?

"Strained efforts" emphasizes the difficulty and struggle involved in the attempts, while "earnest attempts" highlights the sincerity and dedication behind the attempts. You can use alternatives such as "sincere attempts" when the focus is on the dedication.