to strive for excellency

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to strive for excellency" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct term is "to strive for excellence." You can use it when discussing the pursuit of high quality or superior performance in various contexts, such as education, work, or personal development. Example: "In our organization, we always aim to strive for excellence in every project we undertake."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"We do try to strive for excellency".

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

But it also reduces their incentive to strive for excellence.

The Economist

Her parents encouraged her to strive for academic excellence.

Science Magazine

They deserve something special to strive for.

The New Yorker

"For to strive for be happy".

The New York Times - Health

I have to strive for it.

The New York Times

"We need to strive for both".

The New York Times

They will continue to strive for justice.

The Guardian

"It's something for us to strive for.

The New York Times - Sports

So for India, China represents the higher rung to strive for.

The New York Times

"As if being typical were something to strive for".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "excellence" instead of "excellency". "Excellence" is the correct noun form denoting high quality or merit, while "excellency" is a title of honor.

Common error

Avoid using "excellency" when you mean "excellence". "Excellency" is reserved as a form of address for high-ranking officials, such as ambassadors or governors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to strive for excellency" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose, aiming to indicate the goal of one's efforts. However, according to Ludwig AI, it uses an incorrect word choice. The correct term is "to strive for excellence".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to strive for excellency" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "to strive for excellence". "Excellency" is a title, not a quality. Ludwig AI points out this error, advising to use "excellence" instead. While the intention is to express the pursuit of high quality, the incorrect word choice undermines this. Remember to reserve "excellency" for addressing high-ranking officials and use "excellence" when referring to a standard of quality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

To strive for excellence

Replaces "excellency" with the correct and commonly accepted term "excellence".

To aim for superiority

Substitutes "strive" with "aim" and "excellency" with "superiority", focusing on achieving a higher position or rank.

To pursue high standards

Uses "pursue" instead of "strive", emphasizing the active chase of high quality criteria.

To seek perfection

Replaces "strive for excellency" with the pursuit of flawlessness.

To work towards distinction

Emphasizes effort directed at achieving recognition or eminence.

To aspire to greatness

Focuses on a grander, more ambitious goal than mere "excellency".

To endeavor for quality

Replaces "strive" with "endeavor", conveying a sense of serious effort toward quality.

To try for the best

A more colloquial and less formal alternative.

To push for improvement

Highlights continuous efforts to make things better.

To dedicate oneself to mastery

Implies a complete commitment to becoming highly skilled or proficient.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "to strive for excellency"?

The correct phrase is "to strive for excellence". The word "excellency" is a title given to dignitaries, while "excellence" refers to the quality of being outstanding.

Is "excellency" ever correct in a sentence?

Yes, but only when used as a title. For example, "His Excellency, the Governor-General, addressed the nation" is correct. It's not interchangeable with "excellence".

What are some alternatives to "to strive for excellence"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "to aim for superiority", "to pursue high standards", or "to seek perfection".

How can I remember the difference between "excellence" and "excellency"?

Think of "excellence" as a quality to achieve, and "excellency" as a title to bestow. "Excellence" is something you work towards, while "Excellency" is what you call someone important.