two tries

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "two tries" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the number of attempts made to achieve something. Example: "After two tries, I finally managed to solve the puzzle."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

You have two tries.

The New York Times

Their two tries came from turnovers.

The Guardian - Sport

Two tries came from Welsh kicks.

The Guardian - Sport

His first two tries ended quickly.

The New York Times - Magazine

We probably left two tries out there.

The Guardian - Sport

Biarritz's two tries were well created.

The Guardian - Sport

Two tries were disallowed for forward passes.

The Guardian - Sport

It should, but I failed at my first two tries.

The New York Times

It took us two tries to get across the border.

Independent

By the time he returned, Castres had scored two tries.

The Guardian - Sport

And he made key passes to make two tries.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "two tries" in sports contexts, ensure the sport uses the term "try" for scoring. Otherwise, consider using more appropriate terms like "goals" or "points" to avoid confusion.

Common error

Avoid using "two tries" when referring to actions that inherently allow only one attempt. For example, don't say "he had two tries at the free throw" if only one is permitted per turn.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "two tries" typically functions as a noun phrase, acting as the object or complement in a sentence. It indicates the quantity of attempts made or scores achieved. Ludwig AI confirms this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "two tries" is a grammatically sound and commonly used noun phrase that indicates making two attempts or scoring twice, particularly in sports like rugby. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use across various contexts, primarily in news and media. While the phrase is generally neutral in register, its specific meaning depends on the context—ranging from casual attempts to professional sports reporting. If you need to provide semantically related alternatives to the phrase, consider "two attempts" or "two efforts". Be mindful to use it in appropriate contexts, aligning with the term's intended meaning, especially in sports where "try" has a very specific definition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

two attempts

Replaces "tries" with a more general term for attempts.

two efforts

Similar to "two attempts", emphasizing the exertion made.

a couple of tries

Uses colloquial term "couple" to express the number.

pair of attempts

Uses "pair" to describe two attempts, offering a slight variation in phrasing.

dual attempts

Uses "dual" as an adjective to describe the attempts.

second attempt

Focuses on the action after one failure instead of on the total number of attempts.

two scoring plays

Specifically relates to scoring in sports, changing "tries" to "scoring plays".

two scoring opportunities

Emphasizes the opportunities to score.

double attempt

This suggests a single action involving two attempts

twice

Shortened expression, may need some context to be clear.

FAQs

How can I use "two tries" in a sentence?

You can use "two tries" to describe making two attempts at something. For example, "He needed "two tries" to start the engine" or "The team scored "two tries" in the first half".

What does "two tries" mean in rugby?

In rugby, "two tries" means a team or player has successfully scored two tries, which is a way of gaining points by touching the ball down in the opponent's in-goal area.

Are there alternatives to saying "two tries"?

Yes, you can use alternatives depending on the context. For general attempts, you might say "two attempts" or "two efforts". If referring to scoring in a game, you could say "two scoring plays".

Is it correct to say "two try" instead of "two tries"?

No, it is grammatically incorrect to say "two try". The correct plural form is ""two tries"" when referring to more than one try.