trying to oversee

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trying to oversee" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing an effort to manage, supervise, or monitor a situation or group of people. Example: "She is trying to oversee the project to ensure everything runs smoothly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

A hapless-looking Dominican Army colonel was trying to oversee the proceedings.

The New Yorker

In the meantime, Thorson is trying to oversee the program in addition to his other responsibilities.

The Washington Post

It certainly makes the job of the civilians trying to oversee the economic and political rebuilding of Iraq immeasurably harder, if not impossible.

The Economist

Andrew Ang, a professor at Columbia Business School, says the S.E.C.'s reluctance to act on behalf of issuers may be a result of its odd position as a federal regulator trying to oversee municipalities that are under state jurisdiction.

The New York Times

The report noted that the agency had only four or five employees in Houston trying to oversee BP's efforts to cap the runaway well and collect the gushing oil.

The New York Times - Science

"You have a tremendous opportunity to express your voice at a time when the private sector is largley paralysed and government is desperately trying to oversee ande cope with what's going on," Cable told the conference.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

He argued that it was not sustainable for the Department for Education to try to oversee 20,000 schools.

The Guardian

That board tried to oversee the auditing profession but could not mount its own inspections of the accounting firms.

The New York Times

Microsoft is known for having quite a lot of powerful groups within the company and they make life very difficult for anyone who tries to oversee them".

The New York Times - Tech

In subsets of the market — like enterprise resource planning, which tries to oversee many basic operations — SAP laid claim to 22percentt, almost twice Oracle's 12percentt.

The New York Times - Tech

Stephen Cambone may have more influence over intelligence matters at the Pentagon than anyone who has previously tried to oversee that enterprise, so his words carry some weight.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "trying to oversee", ensure the context clearly defines what is being overseen. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the sentence's meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "trying to oversee" without a clear object. For example, instead of saying "He's trying to oversee", specify "He's trying to oversee the project budget" for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trying to oversee" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as part of a verb phrase to describe an ongoing attempt to supervise or manage something. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "trying to oversee" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe the act of attempting to supervise or manage something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral in tone, more formal alternatives may be preferred in certain professional or academic settings. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what exactly is being overseen. Related phrases include "attempting to manage", "endeavoring to supervise" and "seeking to administer".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attempting to manage

Replaces "oversee" with the more general term "manage", focusing on the act of controlling or directing.

endeavoring to supervise

Uses more formal language, replacing "trying" with "endeavoring" and "oversee" with "supervise".

seeking to administer

Focuses on the administrative aspect of overseeing, suggesting a more hands-on approach.

working to govern

Highlights the act of governing or ruling, implying a broader scope of control.

coordinating the oversight

Highlights the act of coordinating and managing something.

aiming to regulate

Emphasizes the act of controlling something by rule or law.

striving to direct

Suggests an effort to guide or steer something in a particular direction.

managing the supervision

Focuses on the act of supervision as a task to be managed.

undertaking the control

Emphasizes the act of taking control or charge of a situation.

taking responsibility for direction

Highlights the accountability for guiding and managing something.

FAQs

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

You can use "trying to oversee" to describe an attempt to manage or supervise something, such as "She is trying to oversee the project to ensure everything runs smoothly."

What are some alternatives to "trying to oversee"?

You can use alternatives like "attempting to manage", "endeavoring to supervise", or "seeking to administer" depending on the context.

Is "trying to oversee" formal or informal?

"Trying to oversee" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives exist for professional settings.

How does "trying to oversee" differ from "actually overseeing"?

"Trying to oversee" implies an attempt or effort to manage, whereas "actually overseeing" suggests that the management or supervision is actively and effectively taking place.