trying our best

USAGE SUMMARY

"trying our best" is a correct phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express your effort as a collective to achieve something. For example, "We are all trying our best to finish this project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We're trying our best".

The Guardian

"We are trying our best".

The New York Times

We were trying our best".

The New York Times - Tech

"We are all trying our best.

The Guardian - Sport

And we are trying our best".

The New York Times

"We're trying our best to meet demand".

The New York Times - Tech

All I can say is that we're trying our best".

The New York Times

"We are trying our best to release them soon".

The New York Times

We're trying our best to pull ourselves together".

The Guardian

"I don't know, but we're trying our best.

The New York Times - Sports

"We are trying our best," said Gen. Mohammed Zahir, an Afghan police official.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "trying our best" to convey sincerity and commitment, especially when results are uncertain. It acknowledges effort even if success isn't guaranteed.

Common error

While acceptable in most situations, avoid excessive use of "trying our best" in highly formal reports or academic papers. Opt for more precise language to describe specific actions and strategies.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trying our best" functions as a verbal phrase expressing collective effort and intention. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and its ability to convey a sincere commitment to achieving a goal. It emphasizes the process of striving rather than guaranteeing a specific outcome.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

18%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "trying our best" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express sincere collective effort. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and demonstrates its frequent use in News & Media. While its register leans towards neutral, it's adaptable across various contexts. For formal settings, consider more precise alternatives, but in general, "trying our best" effectively communicates commitment and dedication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

doing our utmost

Replaces "trying" with "doing" and "best" with "utmost", emphasizing maximum effort.

giving it our all

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey complete dedication and effort.

making every effort

Focuses on the exertion of effort, highlighting the proactive nature of the attempt.

exerting ourselves

Emphasizes the physical or mental effort being expended.

striving to succeed

Shifts the focus to the aspiration of success, implying effort as a means.

endeavoring to achieve

Uses more formal language to express a determined attempt to reach a goal.

doing what we can

Acknowledges limitations while still emphasizing the effort being made.

putting our best foot forward

Idiomatic expression indicating an attempt to make a good impression or perform well.

applying our full capabilities

Highlights the use of all available skills and resources.

dedicating our energies

Focuses on the commitment of time and effort towards a specific purpose.

FAQs

What does "trying our best" mean?

The phrase "trying our best" signifies a collective effort to achieve a goal, indicating a sincere commitment to performing well and exerting maximum effort, even when the outcome is uncertain.

How can I use "trying our best" in a sentence?

You can use "trying our best" to express dedication and effort, such as "We are "trying our best" to meet the deadline" or "The team is "trying our best" to provide excellent customer service".

What are some alternatives to "trying our best"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "doing our utmost", "giving it our all", or "making every effort" instead of "trying our best".

Is "trying our best" suitable for formal writing?

While generally acceptable, "trying our best" may sound informal in some formal contexts. Consider using more precise and professional alternatives like "exerting ourselves" or "endeavoring to achieve" for a more sophisticated tone.