striving to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "striving to be" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a desire or effort to achieve a certain state, quality, or identity. Example: "She is always striving to be the best version of herself."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They are striving to be noticed.

The New York Times - Magazine

He's striving to be the best.

The New York Times

Everyone is striving to be successful.

The Guardian - Money

I'm always striving to be a generic person".

The New Yorker

We're both striving to be a top-six team".

Independent

Striving to be the best is a great idea, while striving to be perfect will never work.

The New York Times

The company said it was striving to be environmentally friendly.

The New York Times

Women have spent decades striving to be equal.

The New York Times

Will all those Hollywood twiglets soon be striving to be a size -1?

Independent

For them, it seems, maturity only means striving to be No. 1.

The New York Times

This building is striving to be the largest green building in America.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "striving to be" to convey a sense of ongoing effort and aspiration. For instance, "The company is striving to be a leader in sustainable practices."

Common error

Avoid using "striving to be" when a more direct, active voice would be clearer. Instead of "The project is striving to be completed on time", try "The project team is working to complete the project on time."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "striving to be" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as part of a verb phrase to describe an ongoing effort or ambition. Ludwig AI indicates its correctness and frequent usage. Examples from Ludwig show it describing personal goals, organizational aims, and desired qualities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "striving to be" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to convey effort and aspiration towards a goal. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears frequently in diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media sources. While versatile, it's important to ensure clarity and avoid passive voice constructions where a more active verb would be more effective. Alternatives like "aspiring to be" or "aiming to be" can be used for nuanced meanings. Ultimately, "striving to be" remains a reliable phrase for expressing ongoing ambition and effort.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aspiring to be

Emphasizes a desire and ambition to reach a higher level or achieve a specific goal.

endeavoring to be

Highlights the effort and determination involved in trying to achieve a particular state.

aiming to be

Focuses on having a clear objective and directing efforts towards achieving it.

seeking to be

Indicates an active search or pursuit of a specific quality or identity.

working towards being

Suggests a continuous and progressive effort to achieve a certain state.

trying to become

Implies an attempt to evolve into something different or better.

making an effort to be

Highlights the conscious effort and deliberate action taken to achieve a goal.

putting effort into being

Focuses on the dedication and energy invested in achieving a desired state.

determined to be

Indicates a strong resolve and commitment to achieving a specific goal or state.

pushing to be

Suggests actively working to achieve something.

FAQs

How can I use "striving to be" in a sentence?

You can use "striving to be" to describe an ongoing effort to achieve a goal or embody a certain quality. For example, "She is "striving to be" a better person each day."

What are some alternatives to "striving to be"?

You can use alternatives like "aspiring to be", "aiming to be", or "endeavoring to be" depending on the specific context.

Is "striving to be" formal or informal?

"Striving to be" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The formality often depends more on the surrounding vocabulary.

Which is correct: "striving to be" or "striving for"?

Both are correct, but they have different meanings. "Striving to be" describes an effort to achieve a state of being, while "striving for" describes an effort to obtain something. For example, "striving for success".