to attain

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of a sentence "to attain" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use "to attain" when you want to express achieving something as a result of effort or when you want to show progress toward a goal. Example sentence: He is working hard every day to attain his dream of becoming an actor.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

We will help you to attain it.

The New Yorker

"To attain knowledge, add things every day.

The New York Times

What speeds would it have to attain?

The New York Times

What do I have yet to attain?

The Guardian

That's what we're trying to attain.

The Guardian - Sport

Young people are not able to attain what they should be able to attain.

The Guardian

You can put yourself through whatever to attain what you want to attain.

The New York Times - Magazine

But to attain this status, No. 2 L.S.U.

The New York Times - Sports

But McCullum is starting to attain that sort of status.

The Guardian - Sport

To have that aspiration and manage to attain it.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

And what did Rose do to attain that?

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to attain" when you want to emphasize the effort and process involved in achieving a specific goal or reaching a certain status. For example, "She worked tirelessly to attain her PhD."

Common error

While "to attain" is a perfectly valid phrase, it can sound overly formal in casual conversation. In informal settings, consider using simpler alternatives like "to get" or "to reach" to maintain a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to attain" functions as an infinitive of purpose, often indicating the reason or objective behind an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and commonly used. The examples show it expressing goals and achievements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to attain" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase that serves as an infinitive of purpose. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It commonly expresses the achievement of a goal through effort. While versatile, it's important to consider the context; simpler alternatives may be preferable in informal settings. Its prevalence in news, scientific, and formal business sources underscores its appropriateness in professional communications. To avoid overuse, consider related phrases like "to achieve" or "to reach" for slight nuances in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to achieve

This alternative focuses more broadly on accomplishment, while "to attain" emphasizes the effort in reaching a specific goal.

to reach

This term indicates arriving at a destination or objective, similar to "to attain" but less focused on the effort involved.

to accomplish

This suggests completing something successfully, which is close to "to attain" but puts less emphasis on the process.

to acquire

This focuses on gaining possession or obtaining something, similar to achieving but emphasizing ownership.

to gain

This term is a more general way of saying to get or obtain something, closely related to "to attain".

to secure

This suggests obtaining something with effort and ensuring it is protected, which is similar to the effort implied in "to attain".

to obtain

This term indicates getting something, often through deliberate effort, like "to attain".

to realize

This suggests bringing something into existence or achieving a goal, similar to the achieving aspect of "to attain".

to fulfill

This focuses on satisfying a requirement or achieving a goal, aligning with the completion aspect of "to attain".

to come by

This is an informal way to say to get or obtain something, which is similar to "to attain" but less formal.

FAQs

How can I use "to attain" in a sentence?

Use "to attain" when you wish to express the achievement of something through dedicated effort. For example, "The company aims "to attain market leadership" within the next five years."

What are some alternatives to "to attain"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "to achieve", "to reach", or "to accomplish". Each carries a slightly different nuance in meaning.

Is it correct to use "to attain" in formal writing?

Yes, "to attain" is suitable for formal writing. It conveys a sense of purposeful effort in achieving something, making it appropriate for academic, business, and official contexts.

What is the difference between "to attain" and "to obtain"?

"To attain" implies a deliberate effort and progression toward a goal, whereas "to obtain" simply means to get or acquire something, without necessarily implying a great deal of effort.