we ought to attempt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we ought to attempt" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when suggesting that an action should be taken or when expressing a moral obligation to try something. Example: "In order to improve our community, we ought to attempt to engage more with local residents and understand their needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Even if we cannot assess things properly right away, we ought to attempt to divide the wheat from the chaff to the best of our abilities.

The Guardian - Books

We ought to attempt to view injuries to us from as distant and unprejudiced a human viewpoint as possible — with full awareness of our own future non-existence and final judgment -- and when we do we will be able to recognize that our enemies are as often as not mistaken or acting inadvertently.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

More remarkably, he succeeds with what no prudent novelist ought to attempt.

The New York Times - Books

I shoughtface my disgustong, sattemptshed — itself a classic example of the Mendelsonian lawinteralse economies — pruningts treasure trove of rotten sheep's wool, rusted butcuit tins, desiccated bulackingd horrific, child-painted mugspatialh I lawarenessandnthe serenity to throw ability

The New Yorker

He might decide the odds are low (say 1 in 20) yet still volitionally deliberate about whether he ought to attempt to escape.

SEP

Laptop.com got their hands on "an almost final production unit" and found that, although the forthcoming Classmate is meant for kids, the implementation of the touchscreen features and the responsive accelerometer are both something that mainstream netbook manufacturers ought to attempt to replicate.

TechCrunch

They think we ought to abandon the attempt to defend scientific realism in general rather than on a case-by-case basis.

SEP

We ought to give it a try [ 5 ].

Annals of Behavioral Medicine

We ought to.

The New Yorker

"We ought to find Ian".

The New Yorker

We ought to be bolder.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we ought to attempt" when you want to express a sense of duty or strong recommendation, particularly in formal writing or speech. It is suitable when suggesting a course of action that aligns with moral or ethical principles.

Common error

Avoid using "we ought to attempt" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "we should try" or "let's try" are often more appropriate and sound less stilted in those settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we ought to attempt" functions as a directive, expressing a strong suggestion or moral obligation to undertake a particular action. It is used to recommend a course of action that is considered necessary or beneficial, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we ought to attempt" is a grammatically correct expression suggesting a strong recommendation or moral obligation to try something. While considered correct and usable, it's relatively rare and most appropriate for formal contexts like news and media or academic discussions. Ludwig AI confirms the validity of the phrase. For more casual settings, simpler alternatives such as "we should try" are often more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we should try to

Replaces "ought to" with "should", making it less formal.

we must try to

Substitutes "ought to" with "must", increasing the sense of necessity.

it's advisable to try

Changes the structure to an impersonal recommendation, softening the obligation.

we are advised to attempt

Passively indicates a recommended course of action.

we are encouraged to attempt

Suggests motivation rather than strict obligation.

it would be wise to try

Highlights the prudence of the action.

we would do well to attempt

Emphasizes the potential benefit of the action.

it is our duty to try

Focuses on the moral imperative of the attempt.

we need to make an effort to

Emphasizes effort rather than obligation.

let's make an effort to

A more collaborative suggestion for action.

FAQs

What does "we ought to attempt" mean?

The phrase "we ought to attempt" means that we should try to do something. It suggests a sense of obligation or advisability to make an effort.

When is it appropriate to use "we ought to attempt"?

"We ought to attempt" is appropriate in formal contexts when expressing a strong recommendation or a sense of duty. It's less common in casual conversation.

What are some alternatives to "we ought to attempt"?

Alternatives include "we should try", "we must try to", or "it's advisable to try", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is "we ought to attempt" interchangeable with "we should attempt"?

While similar, "we ought to attempt" carries a slightly stronger connotation of moral obligation compared to the more general recommendation of "we should attempt".