strive at

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "strive at" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is "strive for," which is used to indicate making great efforts to achieve or obtain something. Example: "She strives for excellence in her work and always seeks to improve her skills."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

There are pleasures, if one goes with the flow of Rinder's New Age-ish dewiness and indulges artists who strive, at all costs, to please.

The New Yorker

Despite all the loose talk about design and machines, organisms aren't striving to realize some engineer's blueprint; they're striving (if they can be said to strive at all) only to have more offspring than the next fellow.

The New Yorker

As the prime minister said in his Bloomberg speech, the idea that members of the EU should strive at every point and on every topic to constantly integrate further is fundamentally misguided.

The Guardian - Opinion

Possibly it's significant that there's a brother and sister behind the camera; either way, the film gains an extra emotional dimension as Ayesha and Kabir, unmoored from their usual surrounds, realise they've become prisoners of wealth and luxury, and strive – at potentially huge personal cost – to navigate safe passage.

The Guardian - Film

Still, some of the performers strive at full, unpadded strength; the best of them, unsurprisingly, is Nick Nolte, who brings to Adam Verver — "America's first billionaire," we are informed — a gravity so gruff that you wonder what distant ruthlessness, moral and commercial, may have led to his current, Raphael-savoring finesse.

The New Yorker

Companies should strive at every turn to build this unfair advantage to succeed.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

But striving for flexibility and balance and striving at work are not mutually exclusive.

The New York Times

But after ten years of striving at party reform, he also looks desperately ineffective.

The Economist

We strived at every opportunity to make the improvements necessary to prevent the kind of harm inflicted on Baby P by his guardians, and we failed".

Independent

The vision of Luria is expressed in a vast mythical construct, which is typologically akin to certain gnostic and Manichaean (3rd-century dualistic) systems but which strives at all costs to avoid dualism.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Maybe the perversity we all feel in the idea of striving at marriage — the reason so few of us do it — stems from a misapprehension of the proper goal.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "strive at" in formal writing. Instead, use "strive for" or other alternatives like "aim for" or "work towards" for correct grammar.

Common error

Many writers incorrectly use "strive at" when they should use "strive for". Always remember that "strive" typically takes "for" as a preposition to indicate the object of your efforts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "strive at" is generally used to express an effort towards something, but it incorrectly pairs the verb "strive" with the preposition "at." According to Ludwig AI, the correct form is "strive for".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "strive at" appears in a limited number of sources across categories such as News & Media and Science, it is considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI highlights that the correct form is "strive for". Therefore, it is best to avoid using "strive at" and instead opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "aim for" or "work towards" to ensure clarity and correctness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aim for

Replaces "strive" with "aim", suggesting a goal-oriented approach with a specific target.

work towards

Emphasizes the ongoing effort and direction of progress.

endeavor to

A more formal alternative to "strive", highlighting a determined attempt.

try to

A simpler, more general term indicating an attempt or effort.

seek to

Focuses on the pursuit or search for a specific outcome.

aspire to

Highlights ambition and a desire for something great or noble.

pursue

Indicates actively chasing or following a goal or objective.

make an effort to

Directly states the action of putting in effort towards something.

struggle to

Emphasizes the difficulty and challenge involved in the attempt.

do one's best

Focuses on putting in maximum effort, regardless of the outcome.

FAQs

Is "strive at" grammatically correct?

No, "strive at" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. The correct form is "strive for".

What does "strive for" mean?

"Strive for" means to make great efforts to achieve or obtain something.

What can I say instead of "strive at"?

Since "strive at" is incorrect, use "strive for". Alternatives include "aim for", "work towards", or "endeavor to".

Which is correct, "strive at" or "strive for"?

"Strive for" is the correct and commonly accepted phrase. "Strive at" is generally considered grammatically incorrect.