unsuccessful attempt

USAGE SUMMARY

"unsuccessful attempt" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to describe a failed or unsuccessful effort or action. Example: "After multiple unsuccessful attempts to convince his parents to let him go on the trip, Jack finally gave up and stayed home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His accent is a wildly unsuccessful attempt at Cockney.

The Guardian - Film

While married, he made an unsuccessful attempt at chicken farming.

The New York Times

After an unsuccessful attempt at suicide, Herod died.

Britannica

This involved an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate its prime minister.

The Washington Post

Fleeing to Marseille, Benjamin made an unsuccessful attempt at escape aboard a freighter bound for Ceylon.

The Guardian

The unsuccessful attempt to unscrew the lock with the aid of a nailfile.

The New Yorker

Tells about his love affairs; his unsuccessful attempt to photograph an American girl in the nude.

The New Yorker

Yahoo users suspect the new Yahoo mail was Yahoo's unsuccessful attempt to mimic Gmail.

The New York Times

It can revamp its deeply unsuccessful attempt to aid troubled homeowners.

The New York Times

This week's meeting was, as it turned out, the government's latest unsuccessful attempt to dissuade them.

The Economist

His unsuccessful attempt to impose "congestion pricing" for cars in Manhattan had London as a model.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Follow "unsuccessful attempt" with a "to + verb" phrase to indicate the goal of the effort (e.g., "unsuccessful attempt to escape").

Common error

While "unsuccessful attempt" is correct, avoid using it repeatedly in close proximity. Vary your language by using synonyms like "failed effort" or "fruitless endeavor" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unsuccessful attempt" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "unsuccessful" modifies the noun "attempt". It typically describes a specific instance of trying to achieve something that did not succeed. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Encyclopedias

19%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unsuccessful attempt" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression in English to describe an effort that did not achieve its intended goal. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears frequently across diverse contexts, including news media, encyclopedias and scientific publications. While synonymous options like "failed effort" or "fruitless endeavor" exist, "unsuccessful attempt" provides a clear and neutral way to convey the lack of success. When employing this phrase, ensure varied language to maintain reader engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failed effort

Emphasizes the lack of success in an undertaking.

fruitless endeavor

Highlights the lack of positive results despite significant effort.

abortive effort

Suggests an attempt that was cut short or prematurely terminated.

futile gesture

Implies that the attempt was pointless from the outset.

vain endeavor

Indicates an attempt made without any real prospect of success.

thwarted effort

Highlights that the effort was actively prevented from succeeding.

unsuccessful bid

Suggests a failed attempt to win something, such as an election or contract.

botched attempt

Implies that the attempt was poorly executed, leading to failure.

miscarried plan

Focuses on the failure of a previously well-laid plan.

collapsed effort

Suggests a situation where the attempt crumbled or fell apart.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "unsuccessful attempt"?

You can use alternatives like "failed effort", "fruitless endeavor", or "abortive effort" depending on the context.

How to use "unsuccessful attempt" in a sentence?

You can use "unsuccessful attempt" by stating what the attempt was trying to achieve. For instance: "There was an "unsuccessful attempt" to resolve the conflict".

What is the difference between "unsuccessful attempt" and "failed attempt"?

While both phrases indicate a lack of success, "unsuccessful attempt" is more neutral. "Failed attempt" can sometimes imply a greater degree of inadequacy or a more decisive failure.

Is it redundant to say "unsuccessful attempt" since an attempt implies something that might not succeed?

While an attempt does imply the possibility of failure, specifying that it was "unsuccessful attempt" provides clarity and avoids ambiguity. It explicitly confirms that the effort did not achieve its intended outcome.