useless effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'useless effort' is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express a feeling of futility when attempting to do something, implying that the result will not be successful or worthwhile. For example: She had spent many hours preparing the presentation, but it was all a useless effort - her boss wasn't interested in hearing it.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

It was a characteristic Manet, for one, would hold against him: "So much useless effort, so much wasted space … Not a shadow of an emotion".

The Guardian - Arts

First is that 5 Hz is below the human range of hearing, making it a sort of useless effort.

TechCrunch

Accordingly in the span of two generations that which cost millions of lives and centuries of useless effort, namely, the elimination of Germanism and its carriers, will have been an accomplished fact.

Wikipedia

You start to pull your collar up over your nose in a useless effort to protect yourself, as your face burns and your lungs constrict, and desperately, you squint, stumbling forward, crying, aching, and straining for breath.

Huffington Post

Likewise, trying to convince GM or Microsoft to abandon stock options or to institute a nominating system that allows shareholders to nominate and elect directors from a slate larger than the number to be elected will prove to be an equally useless effort.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

After the Duke's unsuccessful attempt to seize Antwerp, Bodin wrote to his brother-in-law, Nicolaus Trouilliart, on January 22 , 1583and explained his useless efforts to dissuade the duke from such an undertaking.

SEP

This has been achieved despite what many doomsayers' warned would be a bloody and useless convergence effort.

Forbes

But without an objective measure of "value", Hutton's distinction between "socially useless" and deserving effort dissolves.

The Guardian

At the Israeli Cabinet meeting today, Health Minister Shlomo Benizri of the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party said Yasir Arafat, the Palestinian leader, was "either a dead horse or a deadly one," and he declared the peace effort useless.

The New York Times

He was fond of, nay coined, the expression "brain damaged", as applied to a useless or indifferent effort.

Huffington Post

Given the negative impact of useless antimicrobials, maximal effort should be done to decrease the antibiotic selection pressure.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "useless effort", ensure the context clearly indicates why the effort was unproductive or without value. This adds clarity and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "useless effort" in highly formal or professional documents where a more nuanced or tactful expression might be preferred, such as "unnecessary investment of resources" or "ineffective approach".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "useless effort" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "useless" modifies the noun "effort". This combination describes an endeavor that yields no positive outcome or beneficial result. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "useless effort" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to describe an action or attempt that fails to produce any valuable or desired outcome. As highlighted by Ludwig, it is appropriate for conveying frustration or disappointment. While versatile, it appears most frequently in news and media, with a neutral register suitable for various contexts. Related phrases such as "futile attempt" or "unnecessary effort" can offer nuanced alternatives. It's important to consider the tone and audience when using "useless effort", especially in more formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unnecessary effort

Implies the effort was not needed in the first place.

futile attempt

Highlights the pointlessness of the attempt, suggesting failure is inevitable.

vain endeavor

Emphasizes the lack of success and the pride or vanity associated with the effort.

fruitless exercise

Suggests the activity was unproductive and did not yield any benefits.

abortive attempt

Highlights that the attempt failed to reach completion or achieve its goal.

abortive effort

Similar to abortive attempt, focuses on the failure to complete or achieve the intended outcome.

pointless endeavor

Highlights the lack of purpose or value in the undertaking.

abortive exercise

Focuses on the failure of the exercise to achieve its purpose.

futile exercise

Emphasizes the ineffectiveness and lack of positive outcome from the exercise.

unproductive endeavor

Focuses on the lack of positive results or output from the endeavor.

FAQs

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

You can use "useless effort" to describe a situation where someone has tried hard but failed to achieve any meaningful result. For instance, "Trying to convince him was a "useless effort", as he was completely unwilling to listen".

What are some alternatives to "useless effort"?

Some alternatives include "futile attempt", "vain endeavor", or "fruitless exercise", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "an useless effort" instead of "a useless effort"?

No, it is incorrect. The correct article to use before "useless" is "a" because "useless" begins with a consonant sound.

What's the difference between "useless effort" and "unnecessary effort"?

"Useless effort" implies the effort yielded no results, while "unnecessary effort" suggests the effort was not required in the first place.