trying to know

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trying to know" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing an effort to gain knowledge or understanding about something. Example: "I am trying to know more about the history of this ancient civilization."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Poetry, he contended, is a zone of not knowing, doubting, and trying to know.

The New Yorker

"Trying to know if I had made mistakes.

The New Yorker

Trying to know them, to learn them by heart.

The New York Times

They are all talented, but trying to know what they do well is a challenge".

The New York Times

As a small boy, he began "trying to know everything in mathematics," he said.

The New Yorker

"I didn't even think about trying to know it, because we lived together," says Mr. Erickson, a model.

The New York Times

I approach a character as trying to know somebody living in particular conditions with particular people.

The New York Times

They do it by trying to know everything about whatever they are trading.

The Guardian - Money

"And you've got the undercover people trying to know everything that's happening here.

The New York Times

"We already know way too much about the Universe, and we should stop wasting money trying to know more".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

In the last few years, business has been particularly busy trying to 'know and show' its human rights compliance.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "trying to know" when you want to emphasize the effort and process of gaining knowledge or understanding, rather than a state of already knowing. For example, "The scientist is "trying to know" the cause of the disease".

Common error

While "trying to know" is acceptable, avoid overuse in formal academic or professional contexts. Opt for stronger, more precise verbs such as "investigating", "researching", or "ascertaining" to convey a more authoritative tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trying to know" functions as a gerund phrase, where "trying" acts as a verb in gerund form that takes the infinitive "to know" as its complement. This construction describes an ongoing action or process of attempting to gain knowledge or understanding. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

12%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "trying to know" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that conveys the act of attempting to gain knowledge or understanding. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for a variety of contexts, although more precise alternatives might be preferred in highly formal settings. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media sources, and it's crucial to emphasize the effort and process involved in seeking information when using this phrase. When writing, remember that overuse in very formal context may require replacement with a stronger, more precise verb such as "investigating", "researching", or "ascertaining".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attempting to understand

Replaces "trying" with "attempting" and "know" with "understand", emphasizing the effort to comprehend something.

seeking to learn

Emphasizes the active pursuit of knowledge, using "seeking" instead of "trying" and "learn" in place of "know".

endeavoring to ascertain

A more formal alternative, replacing "trying" with "endeavoring" and "know" with "ascertain", suggesting a determined effort to find something out.

striving to comprehend

Indicates a strong effort to grasp the meaning or significance of something, using "striving" for "trying" and "comprehend" for "know".

working towards understanding

Focuses on the ongoing process of gaining understanding, replacing "trying to know" with a more descriptive phrase.

investigating to discover

Highlights the active process of exploration and finding information, using "investigating" and "discover" to convey a more active approach.

exploring to understand

Emphasizes the act of exploring different facets of a subject in order to gain a better understanding.

probing to discern

Suggests a careful and thorough examination to distinguish or recognize something, using more formal verbs.

in an effort to grasp

Expresses the intention and effort put into understanding something, offering a more descriptive alternative.

making an effort to understand

Highlights the deliberate action taken to gain knowledge, providing a slightly more verbose alternative.

FAQs

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

You can use "trying to know" to describe an active attempt to gain understanding or information. For example: "She is "trying to know" more about the topic", or "They are "trying to know" what happened".

What are some alternatives to "trying to know"?

Some alternatives include "attempting to understand", "seeking to learn", or "endeavoring to ascertain", depending on the desired level of formality and precision.

Is "trying to know" grammatically correct?

Yes, "trying to know" is grammatically correct. It functions as a gerund phrase, with "trying" acting as a gerund and "to know" as an infinitive phrase modifying it.

What is the difference between "trying to know" and "wanting to know"?

"Trying to know" implies an active effort to gain knowledge, whereas "wanting to know" simply expresses a desire for knowledge without necessarily implying any action being taken. One involves active effort, the other a mere desire.