trying to find

USAGE SUMMARY

"trying to find" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the phrase when describing an ongoing action, usually involving searching for something. For example: "I'm trying to find an old book my grandmother used to read to me when I was a child."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He's trying to find himself".

The New York Times

Trying to find out more.

The New York Times

"We're trying to find them".

The New York Times - Magazine

We're trying to find balance.

The New York Times

I'm still trying to find myself.

The New York Times - Sports

"We're trying to find common ground".

The New York Times

Good luck trying to find out.

The New York Times

"The customers are trying to find you".

The New York Times

"Trying to find something I can afford".

The New York Times

I'm trying to find that balance".

The New York Times - Sports

What was he trying to find?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context and choose synonyms like "seeking" or "attempting to locate" for more formal situations.

Common error

Avoid using "trying to find" with abstract nouns when a more specific verb would be appropriate. For example, instead of "trying to find understanding", use "seeking to understand".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trying to find" functions as an infinitive phrase, often acting as part of a verb phrase. It indicates an action that is currently being attempted or is in progress. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes an ongoing action of searching for something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Academia

10%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "trying to find" is a versatile infinitive phrase used to describe the active process of searching for something. As Ludwig AI states, it's grammatically correct and frequently used in various contexts. It is most common in News & Media, Academia, and Science. While generally neutral in register, more formal synonyms like "attempting to locate" can be used for professional or academic writing. Avoid using it too loosely with abstract nouns; opt for more specific verbs when possible. Remember, the key is to convey the active effort of searching, as highlighted in numerous examples from Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

looking to locate

Uses "looking" as a more casual synonym for "trying" while retaining the core meaning of seeking something out.

attempting to locate

Replaces "trying" with a more formal synonym "attempting", and "find" with "locate", adding a slightly more formal tone.

making an effort to find

Expands "trying" into the more descriptive phrase "making an effort", adding emphasis to the attempt.

endeavoring to discover

Substitutes "trying" with "endeavoring", a more formal and emphatic term, and "find" with "discover", implying a more complex search.

seeking to uncover

Replaces "trying" with "seeking" and "find" with "uncover", suggesting an effort to reveal something hidden.

aiming to discover

Replaces "trying" with "aiming", indicating intention, and "find" with "discover", implying the search may reveal something new.

in search of

Uses the prepositional phrase "in search of" to convey the act of looking for something, altering the sentence structure.

exploring to find

Highlights the exploratory nature of the search, implying a broader investigation.

working to identify

Emphasizes the active effort of trying and uses "identify" to suggest a specific goal in the search.

on the lookout for

Uses an idiomatic phrase to convey the idea of actively searching or watching for something.

FAQs

How can I use "trying to find" in a sentence?

"Trying to find" is used to describe the action of actively searching for something. For example, "I am trying to find my keys" or "They are trying to find a solution to the problem".

What can I say instead of "trying to find"?

You can use alternatives like "attempting to locate", "in search of", or "seeking to uncover" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "trying to find" or "trying to finding"?

"Trying to find" is the correct form. "Trying to finding" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "trying to find" and "searching for"?

"Trying to find" implies an ongoing effort, while "searching for" is a more general term for looking for something. They are often interchangeable, but "trying to find" emphasizes the attempt and potential difficulty.