strove to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "strove to be" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing an effort or ambition to achieve a certain state or quality. Example: "She strove to be the best version of herself, constantly seeking self-improvement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

I except Murphy from this because he, alone, strove to be fully honest and of the moment.

Huffington Post

They built a cabin and strove to be self-sufficient.

The New Yorker

But we strove to be fair to Scientology.

The Guardian

She strove to be objective, to speak for the consensus.

The New Yorker

Beethoven consciously strove to be great, even titanic, and he thought he was.

The New York Times

In this memoir, he recalls how he strove to be a "laudable model of Baptist boyhood".

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

Far too many strove to live the life of a hidalgo.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Tracy's close friend Chester Erskine pinpointed his acting style as one of "selection"—he strove to give as little as was needed to be effective reaching "a minimum to make the maximum".

Wikipedia

Consequently, our realized accuracies are likely to be less conservative than those found in studies that strove to reduce the extent of inter-family relationships between members of the training and validation sets.

Genetics, Selection, Evolution

Van Gaal's praise of Ribéry made sense, given the way that the winger, nowhere near as fluent or as swift as he can be, strove to provide a spark.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Dodd's aides and White House officials all strove to say that he was not pushed to this decision.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "strove to be" to convey a sense of determined effort and ambition, especially when describing someone's long-term goals or aspirations. It adds a touch of formality and emphasis compared to simpler alternatives like "tried to be".

Common error

While "strove to be" is grammatically sound, it can sound overly formal or pretentious in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for simpler phrases like "tried to be" or "aimed to be" in less formal settings to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "strove to be" functions as an infinitive phrase, typically used as part of a verb phrase to express a determined effort or ambition. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Wiki

12%

Science

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "strove to be" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that conveys a determined effort to achieve a specific state or quality. As highlighted by Ludwig, it is often used in news, media, and academic contexts to emphasize ambition and persistent pursuit. While it is generally considered correct, it is important to be mindful of the tone and avoid overusing it in informal settings. Consider alternatives like "endeavored to be" or "attempted to be" depending on the desired nuance. Ludwig AI confirms the validity and provides numerous examples of its usage in real-world contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

endeavored to be

Uses a more formal synonym for "strove", maintaining the overall meaning.

aspired to be

Indicates a strong desire and ambition to reach a certain level.

sought to be

Emphasizes the act of seeking or pursuing a desired state.

attempted to be

Indicates an effort made, but perhaps with less intensity than "strove".

aimed to be

Suggests a goal or intention, similar to "strove", but slightly less forceful.

desired to be

Emphasizes the wish or longing for a particular state.

worked to be

Focuses on the effort and labor involved in achieving a state.

labored to be

Highlights the difficulty and exertion required.

pushed to be

Suggests force or pressure being applied to achieve a certain state.

tried to be

A more common and general way of expressing the same idea.

FAQs

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

You can use "strove to be" to describe someone's determined effort to achieve a particular quality or state. For example, "She "strove to be" the best student in her class".

What are some alternatives to "strove to be"?

Alternatives include "endeavored to be", "attempted to be", "aimed to be", or "tried to be", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "strived to be" also correct?

While "strived" is a valid past tense form of "strive", "strove" is more commonly used and generally preferred in formal writing. So, "strove to be" is often considered more appropriate in many contexts.

What is the difference between "strove to be" and "tried to be"?

"Strove to be" implies a more significant and sustained effort than "tried to be". "Tried to be" suggests a simple attempt, while "strove to be" indicates a dedicated and ambitious pursuit.