striving

USAGE SUMMARY

"striving" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it in the sense of making an effort to achieve a goal, or a more general sense of trying hard. For example: "The students were striving to finish their project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The best players don't stop and think how well they have just done, they are always striving: 'How can I improve?' That's why the best stay there for so long, people like Ryan Giggs.

The Guardian - Sport

Today, wine growers are striving to produce the best possible grapes and ultimately the best quality wine.

The Guardian

In fact, research shows that the academic pressure to fulfil potential put on children from such a young age can lead to huge self-esteem problems in their teenage years, when striving for perfectionism does not deliver the goods.

The Guardian

They are both investing in infrastructure and manufacturing, and striving to overcome what is their key problem: the instability of Ethiopia and Senegal's immediate neighbours.

The Guardian

The risk is that the government fails to realise this potential, and my experience so far is that instead of striving for more, sadly, we're settling for less.

The Guardian

Are we now a horde of individuals driven by self-interest, striving for life's lottery win, the big break.

The Guardian - Film

After two days of talks, the governments are striving for a once unthinkable deal in which the DUP sits down in government with Sinn Fein.

The Guardian

The peloton are closing on them in ruthless fashion - and Thomas Voeckler is striving to join them.

The Guardian - Sport

Sábado Gigante symbolizes an outdated thinking about Latinos and comedy that hinges on fetishizing and ridiculing people for ratings; it is ostensibly Latino, but it's not an indication of who we are or who we've striving to become.

The Guardian - Opinion

But it suited Mrs Thatcher's permanently striving personality.

The Guardian

They are lively and confident places, with jobs and training for the young and leadership from respected and respectable man and women in their 40s, who have learned the punishing lessons of a lifetime's struggle against impossible odds, and are striving to give their children a taste of the "normality" they never had.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "striving" to convey a sense of ongoing effort and determination towards a specific goal. For instance, "The company is striving to improve its customer service".

Common error

Avoid using "striving" to describe a completed action. "Striving" implies an ongoing process, not a finished result. Instead of "They are striving to have succeeded", use "They are striving to succeed" or "They have striven to succeed".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "striving" is as a present participle, often used as part of a continuous verb tense (e.g., "They are striving"). As Ludwig states, the word describes the act of making effort to achieve a goal. It can also function as a gerund or verbal noun, such as "renewed striving".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "striving" functions as a present participle or gerund, denoting ongoing effort and determination. Ludwig AI indicates that it’s a grammatically correct and frequently used word. It's generally neutral in register and commonly found in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts. When using "striving", ensure it accurately conveys the intended sense of continuous effort, and avoid using it to describe completed actions. Consider alternatives like "endeavoring" or "pursuing" to fine-tune the specific shade of meaning. As Ludwig confirms, "striving" accurately describes the act of trying hard and is commonly found in a range of sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

endeavoring

A more formal synonym emphasizing a serious attempt or effort.

seeking

Implies a search or quest, often for something specific.

pursuing

Suggests actively following a goal or objective.

aiming

Focuses on the intention and direction of effort.

aspiring

Highlights ambition and the desire for something higher or greater.

working towards

Emphasizes the process and progress of achieving something.

making an effort

A more general phrase indicating exertion of energy.

pushing oneself

Implies personal exertion and overcoming limitations.

exerting oneself

Suggests a significant application of effort and energy.

trying hard

A simpler and more direct way of expressing effort.

FAQs

How to use "striving" in a sentence?

"Striving" is often used to describe an ongoing effort towards a goal. For example, "The team is striving to meet the deadline."

What can I say instead of "striving"?

You can use alternatives like "endeavoring", "seeking", or "pursuing" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "striving to succeed" or "striving for success"?

Both are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Striving to succeed" emphasizes the action of trying, while "striving for success" focuses on the goal itself.

What's the difference between "striving" and "struggling"?

"Striving" implies a determined effort towards a goal, while "struggling" suggests facing difficulties and obstacles. While related, "striving" carries a more positive connotation than "struggling".