try to ameliorate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "try to ameliorate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing efforts to improve a situation or condition. Example: "The organization aims to try to ameliorate the living conditions of the underprivileged communities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

We, in turn, try to ameliorate the situation by saying, "I'm sorry," and perhaps making restitution.

Harvard Business Review

When the forint began to lose value, banks did try to ameliorate the situation.

The New York Times

Various treatments are in use to try to ameliorate the pain arising from Eustachian tube (ET) dysfunction.

International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology

Some high schools try to ameliorate this situation by sending out notices about informational meetings in Spanish.

The New York Times

And thereby it can tell you what procedures might be used to try to ameliorate their shortcoming.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"I couldn't stand it if I didn't give something to try to ameliorate the suffering I see all around us," she said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

Microsoft settlesMicrosoft tried to ameliorate its antitrust problems by settling with two of its biggest opponents.

The Economist

Civil society groups have tried to ameliorate the situation through education campaigns, political advocacy and individual support.

The Guardian

Dr. Madelyn E. Butler, president elect of the Florida Medical Association, said, "We are trying to ameliorate the effects of national health care reform on the State of Florida".

The New York Times

The director of nursing highlighted the danger of "significant issues" emerging during the first year of Virgin Care control, which NHS Surrey has tried to ameliorate through contractual controls.

The Guardian

SOMETIMES it feels as though I spend half my time working and the other half trying to ameliorate the strain of working.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the formality of your audience. While "try to ameliorate" is generally acceptable, simpler alternatives like "try to improve" may be more suitable for less formal settings.

Common error

Avoid using "try to ameliorate" in contexts where simpler language would suffice. Overusing complex vocabulary can make your writing sound pretentious or unclear. In many cases, "try to improve" or "try to alleviate" will be more effective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "try to ameliorate" functions as a purpose connector, indicating an attempt to improve a negative situation or condition. As evidenced by the examples provided by Ludwig, it demonstrates a proactive effort to make things better.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

26%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "try to ameliorate" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression indicating an effort to improve a negative situation. As noted by Ludwig, its function as a purpose connector is evident across various contexts, including news, science, and academia. While versatile, it leans towards a formal register, making it suitable for professional and neutral communications. For simpler contexts, alternatives like "try to improve" are advisable. Ultimately, this expression is a useful tool for expressing intent and proactive effort in making adverse conditions better.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attempt to improve

Replaces "try" with "attempt", focusing on the effort made.

seek to alleviate

Uses "seek" instead of "try", emphasizing the goal-oriented nature of the action and "alleviate" is used in place of "ameliorate", reducing the gravity of the situation.

aim to mitigate

Emphasizes reducing the negative impact, swapping "ameliorate" for "mitigate" and "try" with "aim".

work to ease

Replaces "try" with "work" and "ameliorate" with "ease", which softens the tone and implies effort.

strive to remedy

Uses "strive" instead of "try", indicating a more determined effort, and "remedy" instead of "ameliorate", focusing on correcting something wrong.

endeavor to rectify

Implies a more formal and dedicated effort to correct a situation.

take steps to better

Suggests a series of actions to improve a condition.

make an effort to improve

Highlights the conscious effort being made towards betterment.

act to relieve

Suggests taking direct action to lessen a burden or problem. Substituting the word "ameliorate" with "relieve".

move to amend

Suggests taking action to correct or modify something needing improvement.

FAQs

How can I use "try to ameliorate" in a sentence?

You can use "try to ameliorate" when you want to express an effort to improve a negative situation. For example: "The organization will try to ameliorate the living conditions of the underprivileged communities."

What are some alternatives to "try to ameliorate"?

You can use alternatives like "attempt to improve", "seek to alleviate", or "aim to mitigate" depending on the context.

Is "try to ameliorate" formal or informal?

"Try to ameliorate" is relatively formal. In informal contexts, simpler alternatives such as "try to improve" or "try to ease" might be more appropriate.

What is the difference between "try to ameliorate" and "try to mitigate"?

"Try to ameliorate" generally means to attempt to make something bad better. "Try to mitigate" specifically means to attempt to reduce the severity or impact of something harmful or negative. Therefore, while similar, "try to mitigate" is used when focusing on lessening the negative effects.