try to sustain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "try to sustain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing efforts to maintain or support something over time, such as a relationship, effort, or condition. Example: "We need to try to sustain our momentum in the project to ensure its success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Parties try to sustain their coalitions by enfranchising some and disenfranchising others," Bateman says.

Cornell University

But we must try to sustain our agricultural lore and culinary skills for future generations".

The New Yorker

How long do you think corporations will try to sustain such efforts?

The New Yorker

Mets pitcher David Cone says players burn out if they try to sustain the high life.

The New York Times - Sports

"Once you get it, you have to try to sustain it.

The Guardian - Sport

Endicott Interconnect said it would invest $100 million to buy and try to sustain the local operations.

The New York Times

We have done that in the last couple of weeks but we have to try to sustain it.

The Guardian - Sport

As real wages for the masses decline, they try to sustain consumption through borrowing from the wealthy.

The Washington Post

And, on the whole, the historical experience of countries that try to sustain rigidly fixed rates indefinitely via capital controls is not a pretty one.

The Economist

Against this backdrop, the Knicks will try to sustain the focus and the defensive tenacity that carried them to two victories at home.

The New York Times - Sports

But that same filing showed just how profitable Facebook already is — and the growth trajectory in advertising revenue that it must try to sustain.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "try to sustain", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being maintained or supported. Be specific about the object or concept that needs sustaining. For example, "try to sustain the momentum" is better than just "try to sustain."

Common error

Avoid using "try to sustain" in overly passive constructions. Instead of saying "efforts were made to try to sustain the project", opt for a more direct and active form: "we tried to sustain the project."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "try to sustain" functions as an infinitive phrase, typically used as part of a verb phrase to express an effort or attempt to maintain something. Ludwig provides numerous examples where this phrase is used to describe actions aimed at prolonging or supporting a particular state or activity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "try to sustain" is a versatile and frequently used infinitive phrase that expresses an effort to maintain or prolong something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread applicability across various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media, the phrase also appears in academic and scientific writing. While the phrase is generally suitable for neutral registers, it's essential to ensure that the context clearly defines what is being sustained and to avoid overuse in passive constructions. Alternatives such as "attempt to maintain" or "strive to uphold" can be used to add variety or formality to writing. With its clear meaning and consistent usage, "try to sustain" remains a valuable phrase for expressing efforts to prolong or support various states and activities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attempt to maintain

Replaces "try" with "attempt", which has a slightly more formal connotation.

seek to prolong

Substitutes "try" with "seek" and "sustain" with "prolong", emphasizing the effort to extend the duration.

strive to uphold

Uses "strive" instead of "try" and "uphold" instead of "sustain", suggesting a strong effort to maintain a standard or principle.

work to preserve

Replaces "try" with "work" and "sustain" with "preserve", focusing on the effort to protect something from harm or change.

endeavor to continue

Uses "endeavor" instead of "try" and "continue" instead of "sustain", implying a determined effort to keep something going.

aim to perpetuate

Substitutes "try" with "aim" and "sustain" with "perpetuate", focusing on the intention to make something continue indefinitely.

maintain through effort

Rephrases the original to emphasize that maintenance is done through the application of effort.

keep up with difficulty

Suggests that sustaining is challenging and requires persistent effort.

hold on to

This is a more colloquial alternative, implying an effort to retain something.

struggle to support

Emphasizes the difficulty in maintaining or supporting something.

FAQs

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

You can use "try to sustain" to express an effort to maintain something, such as "We must "try to sustain our efforts" to improve the environment".

What are some alternatives to "try to sustain"?

Alternatives include "attempt to maintain", "seek to prolong", or "strive to uphold" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to use "try to sustain" or "attempt to sustain" in formal writing?

"Attempt to sustain" is generally considered more formal than "try to sustain", but both are acceptable. The choice depends on the overall tone and register of your writing. Consider that "attempt to maintain" can be a better fit in some cases.

What's the difference between "try to sustain" and "try to maintain"?

While "try to sustain" and "try to maintain" are similar, "try to sustain" often implies an effort to prolong something over a longer period, whereas "try to maintain" can refer to keeping something in its current state. Depending on the usage of "attempt to maintain", there could be variations in tone.