try to tidy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "try to tidy" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when suggesting or encouraging someone to make something neat or organized. Example: "Before the guests arrive, please try to tidy the living room."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Do not be tempted to try to tidy up their sprawling roots: this will inhibit flowering.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Given any warning, the bureaucrats would try to tidy their workspaces, but Banning wanted to see each office in all its cluttered glory, just as an everyday citizen would encounter it.

The New Yorker

The portrait is an informal, thinly painted and unfinished study, which had prompted dealers to try to "tidy it up", to make it look more Old Master-ish and more commercial, Mr Gallagher added.

Independent

And we are now just six weeks from the end of the year, a period when investors traditionally try to tidy up their portfolios so as not to be exposed over the holiday period.The best we can now hope for is that January will bring a change in sentiment.

The Economist

I think he would die young, that kind of athlete, sort of old before his time, bad diet and so on, so I wrapped him up in Rabbit at Rest and then regretted that enough to at least try to tidy up the children ["Rabbit Remembered", in Licks of Love, 2000].

The Guardian - Books

"It seems that every time I try to tidy up my desk and office space, more work piles up and things get messy again".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

"I'm trying to tidy my desk," he wrote.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

A few years ago Mr. Oberst might have tried to tidy up this mess.

The New York Times - Arts

I remembered my mother trying to tidy them up, time and time again.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I think that basically, they're just trying to tidy up the map a bit".

The New York Times

Now that Mr. Obama is trying to tidy up Bush administration's mess, he seems to have become guilty by association.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "try to tidy" in instructions or suggestions, follow it with a specific area or item to be tidied, such as "try to tidy your desk" or "try to tidy the living room before guests arrive".

Common error

While acceptable, "try to tidy" may sound informal in professional settings. Opt for alternatives like "endeavor to organize" or "make an effort to clean up" in business communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "try to tidy" functions as an infinitive phrase, typically used as part of a verb phrase. It indicates an attempt or effort to perform the action of tidying. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "try to tidy" is a grammatically sound infinitive phrase used to suggest or encourage someone to make an effort to organize or clean. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It's commonly found in News & Media and Wiki contexts, maintaining a neutral to informal register. While versatile, consider more formal alternatives like "endeavor to organize" for professional settings. Ludwig's examples show its application in varied situations, reinforcing its communicative purpose as a gentle recommendation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attempt to neaten

Focuses on the attempt and uses a synonym for "tidy".

endeavor to organize

Emphasizes a more formal and structured approach to tidying.

make an effort to clean up

Replaces "tidy" with the more general term "clean up" and highlights the effort involved.

try to arrange neatly

Specifies the desired outcome of the effort: neat arrangement.

seek to straighten

Implies correcting a state of disarray.

aim to clear up

Highlights the goal of removing clutter.

strive to put in order

Emphasizes the effort and the desired result of orderliness.

take steps to declutter

Focuses on removing unnecessary items.

work to sort out

Suggests a more involved process of organizing.

make an attempt at tidying

Nominalizes the action, focusing on the attempt itself.

FAQs

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

You can use "try to tidy" to suggest someone makes an effort to organize or clean something. For example, "Before the guests arrive, please try to tidy the living room."

What can I say instead of "try to tidy"?

You can use alternatives like "attempt to neaten", "endeavor to organize", or "make an effort to clean up" depending on the context.

Is "try to tidy" grammatically correct?

Yes, "try to tidy" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. It follows the standard structure of "try to" + infinitive verb.

What is the difference between "try to tidy" and "try to tidy up"?

"Try to tidy" and "try to tidy up" are very similar. "Tidy up" is slightly more emphatic, suggesting a more thorough cleaning or organizing effort than just "tidy".