strives to excel

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "strives to excel" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to express someone's ambition for success. For example: "Jane strives to excel in her studies, seeking out every opportunity to learn something new."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

But slow migration is no longer viable for a business that strives to excel at innovation and integration.

Harvard Business Review

Past classes at the Columbia University DPT program have exhibited a diverse, dedicated, motivated and intelligent student body that strives to excel in academic and clinical experiences.

Columbia University

On most days, rival honor guards march and drill on adjoining parade grounds; on Pakistan's side, grandstands have been erected so that spectators can enjoy the show, which has grown into a kind of martial battle of the bands, in which each side strives to excel in the performance categories of goose-stepping and glaring.

The New Yorker

The Institute states on its website that it strives to "excel as a provider of social services by focussing attention on the claimant" (http://www.uwv.nl, accessed 18 June 2010).

BMC Medical Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

She strove to excel.

The New York Times

Such determination, such striving to excel, requires leaders—not just controllers, market analysts, and portfolio managers.

Harvard Business Review

Performers strive to excel in well-defined areas, and they are essential to any company.

Stanford University

Born a year apart, Mr Coe and Mr Ovett strove to excel over the same distances the 800 metres, 1,500 metres and imperial mile.

The Economist

The Soviets and their client states strove to excel in boxing, as they did in gymnastics or swimming, exploiting enthusiasm for physical culture to propagandize the virtues of Homo Sovieticus.

The New York Times - Magazine

Along with the hot-button issue of sports and race, and the ambiguous relationship between players and spectators, Mr. Pfeiffer has addressed the genetic freakishness increasingly required of those who strive to excel at the highest levels in football or basketball.

The New York Times - Arts

Typically, the value proposition is chosen from among three differentiators: operational excellence (for example, McDonald's and Dell Computer), customer intimacy (for example, Home Depot and IBM in the 1960s and 1970s), and product leadership (for example, Intel and Sony).2 Companies strive to excel in one of the three areas while maintaining threshold standards in the other two.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "strives to excel", ensure that the context clearly indicates the area in which the subject is trying to achieve excellence. For example, "She strives to excel in mathematics" is more specific and informative than "She strives to excel."

Common error

Avoid using "strives to excel" in overly broad or vague contexts. Without a specific area of focus, the phrase can sound cliché and lack meaningful impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "strives to excel" functions as a purposeful infinitive phrase, indicating the reason or objective behind an action. Ludwig confirms its correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "strives to excel" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that conveys a strong ambition for success. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its validity and indicates that it's frequently used in news media, academia, and business contexts. While alternatives like "aims for excellence" or "seeks to surpass" exist, "strives to excel" effectively communicates ongoing effort and dedication. When using the phrase, it's important to provide a specific context to avoid overgeneralization. Therefore, using this phrase adds depth and clarity to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aims for excellence

This alternative replaces "strives" with "aims" and "excel" with "excellence", shifting from the act of striving to the state of being excellent.

strives for mastery

This alternative focuses on gaining a comprehensive and expert-level skill or knowledge.

seeks to surpass

This alternative emphasizes exceeding a certain level or benchmark, rather than simply achieving excellence.

endeavors to shine

This phrase replaces the more formal "excel" with the more figurative "shine", suggesting a desire to stand out and be noticed.

works towards distinction

This alternative highlights the effort involved in achieving a notable or exceptional status.

seeks preeminence

Implies a drive to be the best and most recognized in a particular field or domain.

aspires to greatness

This suggests a higher ambition, aiming for a more significant and lasting achievement than simply excelling.

pushes for perfection

This emphasizes a relentless pursuit of flawlessness, which can be more intense than striving to excel.

seeks to triumph

This alternative suggests overcoming challenges and achieving victory, rather than simply performing well.

attempts to outdo

This emphasizes competition and surpassing others, rather than internal standards of excellence.

FAQs

How can I use "strives to excel" in a sentence?

Use "strives to excel" to describe someone's dedication to achieving high standards in a specific field or activity. For instance, "The athlete "strives to excel" in every competition".

What are some alternatives to "strives to excel"?

You can use alternatives like "aims for excellence", "seeks to surpass", or "endeavors to shine" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "strive for excel" instead of "strives to excel"?

No, "strive for excel" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is ""strives to excel"", as it includes the infinitive "to excel".

What's the difference between "strives to excel" and "achieves excellence"?

"Strives to excel" implies an ongoing effort and ambition towards achieving high performance, while "achieves excellence" indicates that a high level of performance has already been attained.