various attempts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "various attempts" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to multiple attempts to do something. For example, "He made various attempts to unclog the sink, but none of them were successful."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Various attempts over the years to bring him to justice have failed.

The New Yorker

There were various attempts, sporadically, at reconciliation.

Independent

There have been various attempts at experimental biographies.

The Guardian - Books

The government has made various attempts to change its policy.

The New York Times

City officials made various attempts to tackle the problem.

The New York Times

Various attempts at cosmetic improvements were made, which fooled nobody.

The Guardian

There have been various attempts to measure dew.

Britannica

And there were various attempts to spice things up.

Princeton University

How not to take Sylvia's suicide into account when reading about Esther's various attempts?

The Guardian - Books

Various attempts to pursue a peace dialogue with them have gone nowhere.

The Guardian - Opinion

I made various attempts to extract an official response to these allegations from the Venezuelan government.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing unsuccessful endeavors, follow "various attempts" with a phrase indicating the outcome, such as "various attempts to solve the problem failed". This provides immediate context and impact.

Common error

Avoid phrases like "various different attempts"; the word "various" already implies that the attempts are not all the same. Use "various attempts" or "different attempts", but not both.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "various attempts" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the act of trying to achieve something on multiple occasions. Ludwig's examples demonstrate this function clearly across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "various attempts" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to describe multiple endeavors. As Ludwig AI confirms, its frequent occurrence across diverse sources such as News & Media, Academia, and Science highlights its broad applicability. While alternatives like "numerous tries" or "multiple efforts" exist, the key is to maintain clarity and avoid redundancy. When incorporating "various attempts" in your writing, consider following it with a phrase that clarifies the outcome of those attempts, adding context and impact to your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

numerous tries

Replaces "attempts" with "tries" and "various" with "numerous", emphasizing the quantity of attempts.

several endeavors

Substitutes "attempts" with "endeavors", conveying a sense of purposeful effort. "Various" becomes "several".

multiple efforts

Uses "efforts" instead of "attempts", highlighting the exertion of energy. Replaces "various" with "multiple".

diverse approaches

Emphasizes the variety of methods used, replacing "attempts" with "approaches" and "various" with "diverse".

varied strategies

Focuses on the planning and methods involved, using "strategies" in place of "attempts".

repeated efforts

Highlights the repetitive nature of the attempts, replacing "various" with "repeated".

assorted tries

Uses "assorted" to emphasize the different types of attempts and "tries" instead of "attempts".

different undertakings

Replaces "attempts" with "undertakings", suggesting a more formal and planned effort. "Various" changes to "different".

several stabs

Implies a less precise or skilled effort, substituting "attempts" with the more informal "stabs".

multiple goes

Uses the informal term "goes" instead of "attempts", indicating repeated tries. Replaces "various" with "multiple".

FAQs

How can I use "various attempts" in a sentence?

You can use "various attempts" to describe multiple efforts to achieve a goal. For example, "There were "various attempts" to fix the broken machine, but none succeeded".

What is a more formal synonym for "various attempts"?

A more formal synonym for "various attempts" is "multiple endeavors". This phrase is suitable for professional or academic contexts.

Is it better to use "several attempts" or "various attempts"?

Both "several attempts" and "various attempts" are correct and often interchangeable. "Several" emphasizes a limited number, while "various" highlights the diversity of the attempts. Choose the one that best fits the context.

What can I say instead of "various attempts" to sound less repetitive?

To avoid repetition, you can use alternatives such as "numerous tries", "multiple efforts", or "diverse approaches", depending on the nuance you want to convey.