try as he might

USAGE SUMMARY

"try as he might" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to describe someone's efforts to achieve a goal that prove unsuccessful. For example: "Try as he might, John could not find the solution to the math problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But, try as he might, he didn't.

The New Yorker

Try as he might, he just can't blend in.

Princeton University

Try as he might, Vladimir Putin is no Joseph Stalin.

The New York Times

Try as he might, he could not follow a lecture.

The Washington Post

But try as he might, the world will not.

The New York Times

But try as he might, he couldn't fix blame on himself.

The Washington Post

But, try as he might, he has been unable to bring the public to his side.

The New York Times - Health

But try as he might, Darwin couldn't figure out a better explanation.

The New York Times - Books

But try as he might to distance himself, Mr. Romney cannot escape Mr. Kennedy's influence.

The New York Times

But try as he might, Anderson, seeded 27th, could not sustain his advantage.

The New York Times

Try as he might, he couldn't make these muscles relax until the paroxysm was over.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "try as he might" to emphasize the futility of an action despite considerable effort. It adds a touch of resignation or irony to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "try as he might" when the effort actually leads to success. The phrase is specifically for situations where effort is not enough.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "try as he might" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the manner in which an action was performed. It conveys the idea of unsuccessful effort, as confirmed by Ludwig's analysis of various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "try as he might" is a versatile phrase used to highlight unsuccessful endeavors despite significant effort. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used in news and media. It serves to emphasize futility and is generally considered neutral in tone, making it suitable for various writing styles. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the lack of success, and consider alternatives like "despite his best efforts" or "no matter how hard he tried" for subtle variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

despite his best efforts

Focuses on the effort expended, similar to the original phrase, without success.

no matter how hard he tried

Emphasizes the intensity of the effort but highlights the lack of positive results.

hard as he tried

A more concise and direct way of expressing the same idea.

for all his efforts

Emphasizes the futility of the efforts in achieving success.

even with his utmost effort

Stresses the quality of effort exerted without achieving the desired outcome.

though he gave it his all

Implies complete dedication and effort, but still falling short.

although he exerted himself

Highlights the effort made, though less common in everyday speech.

regardless of how much he attempted

Similar to 'no matter how hard he tried' but slightly more formal.

in spite of his struggles

Focuses more on the difficulties faced during the attempt.

with all his endeavors

Highlights dedication, which still didn't lead to the desired result.

FAQs

How to use "try as he might" in a sentence?

Use "try as he might" to show that someone's efforts were unsuccessful despite their attempts. For example, "Try as he might, he couldn't open the locked door."

What can I say instead of "try as he might"?

You can use alternatives like "despite his best efforts", "no matter how hard he tried", or "hard as he tried" depending on the context.

Is "try as he might" formal or informal?

The phrase "try as he might" is generally considered neutral in formality and can be used in both formal and informal writing.

What's the difference between "try as he might" and "although he tried"?

"Try as he might" emphasizes the futility and extent of the effort, while "although he tried" simply acknowledges the attempt without focusing on its intensity or lack of success. The former adds more color and emotion to the statement.