useful effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "useful effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an effort that is beneficial or productive in achieving a goal. Example: "The team's useful effort in organizing the event made it a great success."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

In The Instinct of Workmanship and the State of the Industrial Arts (1914), he elaborated on his idea that business enterprise was in fundamental conflict with the human propensity for useful effort; too much of humankind's energy was wasted through inefficient institutions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Nor is it the devastating critique of Mr Gove his accusers suppose, for this requires what none has provided: a compelling and affordable alternative, similarly founded on the principles of consumer choice, competition and local accountability that underpin every useful effort at state modernisation, in Britain or anywhere, in recent times.

The Economist

But it is a rhetorically useful effort in distraction.

Huffington Post

We first attempted to determine if the agglomerated data and gene-gene correlation matrix could be applied to a well studied and useful effort to identify genes with cartilage selective expression, and identify novel genes not obvious in more directed prior experimentation.

Plosone

This was the singularly most useful effort and made the planning and organisation of subsequent care for each patient more streamlined.

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

In the field during a natural disaster of this scale, you do feel at times ghoulish and intrusive upon both the grief of survivors and in relation to the more directly useful efforts of rescuers and humanitarian relief workers.

The New Yorker

One of them, the goalkeeper Tim Wiese, had a veritable stinker in the 5-3 defeat at SC Freiburg, where the defensive half of the team were constantly undermining useful efforts by the other half.

The Guardian - Sport

That makes it a particular shame that efforts like H.B.2., a "solution" in search of a problem, put trans women at greater risk while diverting energy from useful efforts to promote everyone's safety and equality.

Huffington Post

Despite useful efforts to determine dosages needed to optimise vitamin D status in individuals, we do not yet know how to allow for ethnicity, genetic variation and baseline status,, and whether this would really reduce MetS risks.

Dermato-Endocrinology

But Starc gets a wicket, and Nasir has made 14 from 10 balls, a useful finishing effort after the set batsmen were dislodged.

The Guardian - Sport

The magnitude of recent antibiotic use among adults, as well as widespread lack of awareness about and inappropriate attitudes toward such use indicate that continued population-based surveys could be useful in efforts to monitor trends in antibiotic use.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a specific task or project, use "useful effort" to emphasize its positive impact and value in achieving a particular goal. Ensure the context clearly indicates what makes the effort useful.

Common error

Avoid using "useful effort" without specifying how the effort is useful. Always provide context to demonstrate the specific benefits or outcomes of the effort being described.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "useful effort" functions as a noun phrase where "useful" modifies the noun "effort". It typically acts as a subject or object within a sentence, describing an action or activity that provides some benefit or advantage. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "useful effort" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase in English that describes an action or activity providing some benefit. While not exceedingly common, Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is well-regarded. It appears in a variety of contexts, including science, news, and encyclopedias. To maximize clarity, always specify how the effort is useful within the given context. Alternatives such as "productive endeavor" or "valuable contribution" can be used depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

productive endeavor

Replaces "effort" with a more formal term suggesting active and fruitful work.

worthwhile undertaking

Emphasizes the value and significance of the task being performed.

beneficial activity

Focuses on the positive outcome or advantage resulting from the action.

valuable contribution

Highlights the positive impact and worth of the input made.

helpful exertion

Replaces "effort" with a synonym implying energy expended in a supportive way.

constructive measure

Shifts focus to a specific action taken with positive intent and results.

advantageous attempt

Highlights the positive outcome or benefits derived from the attempt.

fruitful endeavor

Implies that the undertaking is yielding positive results and outcomes.

practical measure

Emphasizes the pragmatic and functional aspect of the action.

serviceable application

Focuses on the usability and functionality of the action or method.

FAQs

How can I use "useful effort" in a sentence?

You can use "useful effort" to describe an action that is beneficial or productive. For example: "The team's "useful effort" in organizing the event made it a success."

What are some alternatives to "useful effort"?

Alternatives include "productive endeavor", "valuable contribution", or "worthwhile undertaking", depending on the context.

Is "useful effort" formal or informal?

The phrase "useful effort" is generally suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though more formal alternatives like "productive endeavor" may be preferred in professional settings.

What distinguishes "useful effort" from "successful effort"?

"Useful effort" emphasizes the beneficial nature of the work, whereas "successful effort" highlights the achievement of a specific goal. A "useful effort" may not always be successful, but it contributes positively nonetheless.