strive to lay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "strive to lay" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing an effort to establish or set something down, often in a metaphorical sense, such as laying a foundation or groundwork for an idea or project. Example: "We strive to lay the groundwork for a more sustainable future through our initiatives."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The Nuremberg Code also came out of these proceedings, comprising ten ethical ideals that strive to lay the groundwork for ensuring that human rights are respected in human experimentation.

BMC Medical Ethics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

This work strives to lay the initial foundations for systems engineering the analysis of resiliency in this context through the development of modular, composable, and scalable analytical constructs and processes.

Procedia Computer Science

To the extent that more of those assets start flowing into the hands of the quants, it's to be hoped that investors strive to understand what lies behind some of these "black box" models, not all of which are transparent or easily understood, even by veterans of the investment space.

The Guardian - Business

With but 140 characters, I will strive to tell smaller lies.

The New Yorker

But if the defenders decide that declarer must guess what to do to get home, they will strive to mislead declarer about the lay of the land.

The New York Times

Be prepared to lie, lie, lie.

WikiHow

The center of gravity of this article lies in that we strive to design the optimum program to group the flying tanker fleet and then control the air refueling opportunities.

Procedia Environmental Sciences

Much of the heroism of those who suffer lies simply in this: that they strive to go on — something even a fawn can do.

SEP

Another problem lies in the fact that retailers usually strive to serve direct customer orders with only one parcel for customer convenience and transportation cost reasons.

Business Research

We can all strive to be the best we can be, but the art lies in knowing you can get there.

WikiHow

However, since most of the drivers of diabetes lay outside of the health sector, future partnerships should strive to go beyond pharmaceutical and medical groups.

Globalization and Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "strive to lay" when you want to emphasize the effort being made to establish a foundation or groundwork, especially for abstract concepts or long-term projects.

Common error

Avoid using "strive to lay" in contexts where a more direct or concrete action is appropriate. It's best suited for situations where the establishment is foundational and requires sustained effort.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "strive to lay" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose. It combines the verb "strive", indicating a dedicated effort, with "to lay", signifying the goal of establishing a foundation. Ludwig confirms the validity of this structure.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "strive to lay" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a dedicated effort to establish a foundation. As Ludwig confirms, it is valid. Although the frequency is rare, its usage appears primarily in academic, scientific, and news contexts. When choosing alternatives, consider options like "endeavor to establish" or "aim to build" to maintain a similar level of formality. Remember to use "strive to lay" when the act of laying a foundation is intentional and requires consistent effort.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

endeavor to establish

Replaces "strive" with "endeavor" while maintaining the meaning of making an effort, and "lay" with "establish" to make meaning clear.

attempt to set

Uses "attempt" as a synonym for "strive", and "set" as a replacement for "lay", conveying a similar meaning of aiming to establish something.

seek to create

Employs "seek" to denote effort and "create" to replace "lay", emphasizing the act of bringing something into existence.

aim to build

Substitutes "strive" with "aim" and "lay" with "build", highlighting the intention to construct or develop something.

work to establish

Replaces "strive" with "work" and "lay" with "establish", focusing on the effort involved in setting something up.

try to form

Uses "try" as a less formal alternative to "strive" and "form" in place of "lay", suggesting an attempt to create something.

make an effort to construct

Replaces "strive" and "lay" using a more explicit description of effort and construction.

aspire to develop

Substitutes "strive" with "aspire" and "lay" with "develop", emphasizing a higher ambition to grow something.

undertake to build

Uses "undertake" to convey a committed effort and "build" to replace "lay", highlighting the act of construction.

pursue the establishment of

This alternative emphasizes the active pursuit of establishing something, diverging slightly from the direct action implied by "strive to lay".

FAQs

How can I use "strive to lay" in a sentence?

You can use "strive to lay" to describe an effort to establish a foundation, as in, "We "strive to lay" the groundwork for future collaborations".

What are some alternatives to "strive to lay"?

Alternatives include "endeavor to establish", "attempt to set", or "aim to build", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "strive to lay" formal or informal?

"Strive to lay" tends to be more formal, suitable for academic or professional contexts. Less formal alternatives might include "try to set up" or "work towards creating".

What's the difference between "strive to lay" and "try to lay"?

"Strive to lay" implies a more determined and persistent effort than "try to lay". "Try" suggests a simple attempt, while "strive" emphasizes dedication and ambition.