try and work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "try and work" is commonly used in spoken English, but it is considered less formal and may not be the best choice in written English.
You can use it when suggesting an attempt to accomplish a task or goal, often in a casual context. Example: "Let's try and work together to finish this project on time."

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

We invite commenters to try and work out their average working time over that time frame.

The Guardian

"I try and work hard at football.

The New York Times - Sports

We try and work, improve and win for them always".

Independent

Then try and work out who was responsible.

The Guardian - Sport

That's what we have to try and work hard in the summer on getting".

Independent

Foot-and-mouth permitting, they then try and work the calories off with long constitutional walks.

The Economist

I wrote the book to try and work out the gap between those two looks.

The Guardian

The women are ready to try and work out the meaning of justice.

The Guardian

"We have to try to be competitive and try and work our way into the tie.

The Guardian - Sport

"I'll try and work the land to buy it myself," she says.

The Guardian

As a smaller brand you have to be flexible and try and work around any problems.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When speaking casually, "try and work" is perfectly acceptable and widely understood.

Common error

Avoid using "try and work" in academic papers, business reports, or other formal documents. Opt for more formal alternatives like "attempt to work" or "strive to work".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "try and work" functions as a verb phrase indicating an attempt or effort to perform work. As Ludwig AI indicates, this construction is common, albeit less formal than "try to work".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Wiki

31%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "try and work" is a common expression used to convey an attempt to perform work or collaborate on a task. While acceptable in informal and neutral contexts like news articles and general conversation, it's advisable to opt for the more formal "try to work" in academic or professional writing. As Ludwig indicates, this distinction mainly pertains to formality. When aiming for a polished tone, consider alternatives like "attempt to work" or "strive to work". Be mindful of your audience and writing context to ensure the most appropriate usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attempt to work

Replaces the informal "try and" with the more formal "attempt to".

make an effort to work

Highlights the conscious effort involved.

strive to work

Emphasizes effort and determination in working.

endeavor to work

A more formal and less common alternative.

try to make it work

Adds the sense of resolving potential issues to enable working.

aim to work

Focuses on having a goal of working.

seek to work

Suggests a proactive approach to finding work.

do your best to work

Focuses on giving it your all.

aspire to work

Implies a strong desire and ambition to work.

work towards

Emphasizes the progressive nature of the effort.

FAQs

Is "try and work" grammatically correct?

While commonly used, "try and work" is considered less formal. "Try to work" is generally preferred in formal writing.

What's the difference between "try and work" and "try to work"?

The difference is primarily one of formality. "Try to work" is more formal and grammatically standard, whereas "try and work" is more common in spoken English.

How can I use "try and work" in a sentence?

You can use "try and work" in a sentence like this: "We should try and work together on this project." However, in formal contexts, "We should try to work together on this project" is preferable.

What are some alternatives to "try and work"?

Alternatives include "attempt to work", "strive to work", or "endeavor to work", depending on the desired level of formality.