try to stop him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "try to stop him" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing an attempt to prevent someone from doing something or to intervene in a situation involving that person. Example: "Despite their efforts to try to stop him, he continued with his plans."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Blair: you just try to stop him.

The Guardian - Opinion

American business would try to stop him.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Don't try to stop him but join him," she says.

Independent

They didn&apos t try to stop him.

The New York Times - Books

They had seconds to try to stop him.

The Washington Post

We will have to try to stop him.

The Guardian - Sport

At Greenwood, his teachers do not try to stop him.

The New York Times

"Good fish; don't try to stop him," Paul counseled.

The New York Times - Sports

It is a big challenge for centre-backs to try to stop him.

Independent

"I actually went on the track to try to stop him inflicting further damage to himself.

Independent

Count on Griffin having a much better understanding of how defenses will try to stop him.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, consider the context and choose a synonym for "stop" that best reflects the intended nuance, such as "prevent", "hinder", "deter", or "restrain". This will enhance the precision and impact of your writing.

Common error

In formal or professional writing, avoid overusing the word "try". Instead, opt for stronger verbs like "attempt", "seek", or "endeavor" to convey a more decisive and authoritative tone. For example, instead of "try to stop him", consider "attempt to prevent him".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "try to stop him" functions as an infinitive phrase, acting as a verb phrase that describes an action someone is attempting to perform. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "try to stop him" is a versatile and grammatically correct way to express an attempt to prevent someone's actions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is commonly used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral in register, consider using stronger synonyms like "attempt to restrain him" in more formal settings to enhance your writing's precision. Avoid overuse of "try" and be mindful of the specific nuance you want to convey when choosing alternatives. With these tips, you can effectively use "try to stop him" and its related phrases in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attempt to restrain him

Replaces "try" with "attempt" and "stop" with "restrain", emphasizing the effort to control his actions.

make an effort to impede him

Uses "make an effort" instead of "try" and "impede" instead of "stop", suggesting a deliberate attempt to hinder his progress.

seek to prevent him

Replaces "try" with "seek" and "stop" with "prevent", indicating a more determined effort to avert his actions.

endeavor to thwart him

Employs "endeavor" for "try" and "thwart" for "stop", conveying a formal and forceful attempt to frustrate his plans.

take action to deter him

Uses "take action" and "deter", indicating a proactive approach to discourage his actions.

intervene to halt him

Replaces "try" with "intervene" and "stop" with "halt", suggesting a direct action to bring his actions to a standstill.

move to obstruct him

Uses "move to" instead of "try" and "obstruct" instead of "stop", focusing on creating obstacles to hinder his progress.

aim to hinder him

Employs "aim" for "try" and "hinder" for "stop", suggesting a targeted effort to impede his actions.

work to dissuade him

Uses "work to" instead of "try" and "dissuade" instead of "stop", focusing on convincing him not to proceed.

struggle to restrain him

Emphasizes the difficulty of stopping him by using "struggle", implying a more challenging situation.

FAQs

How can I use "try to stop him" in a sentence?

You can use "try to stop him" to express an attempt to prevent someone from doing something. For example: "Despite their efforts to try to stop him, he continued with his plans."

What are some alternatives to "try to stop him"?

You can use alternatives like "attempt to restrain him", "make an effort to impede him", or "seek to prevent him" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "try to stop him" and "attempt to stop him"?

"Try to stop him" implies a general effort, while "attempt to stop him" suggests a more formal or deliberate effort. The choice depends on the tone and context of your writing.

Is it grammatically correct to say "try and stop him" instead of "try to stop him"?

While "try and stop him" is sometimes used colloquially, "try to stop him" is generally considered more grammatically correct, especially in formal writing. It's best to stick with "try to stop him" for clarity and precision.