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won't make an effort
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Saying something like "Jesus won't love you if you don't come" will make them more angry or offended, and they probably won't make an effort to come.

Wiki

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The general public are doing what they can, but are overwhelmed, and some feel their efforts won't make an impact".

News & Media

Huffington Post

"I won't make an official complaint.

News & Media

The Guardian - Sport

"We won't make an exception.

News & Media

The Guardian

That doesn't mean they won't make an impression.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Such a discovery won't make an overnight cancer cure.

Science & Research

Science Magazine

The difference is that he won't make any effort to get out.

News & Media

Huffington Post

After all, what they are entirely about is alleging a vast, kooky-ass conspiracy involving Barack Obama and his family and 40 years worth of government officials, and then sitting back and whining about how the media won't make any effort to go out and substantiate their bonkersauce claims.

News & Media

Huffington Post

If the battery won't make any effort to turn the engine over, it is discharged and you're going to need to jump it.

Wiki

WikiHow

It causes us to think that our effort won't make a difference, so why try?

News & Media

HuffPost

Think your efforts won't make a difference?

News & Media

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In highly formal academic papers, expand the contraction to "will not make an effort" to maintain a professional tone.

Common error

Do not use "won't make an effort" if you are describing a person's current ongoing behavior; in that case, use "isn't making an effort". "Won't" specifically denotes a future prediction or a refusal to act in the future.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

88%

Authority and reliability

4.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "won't make an effort" functions as a complex verb phrase serving as a predicate. It combines the modal auxiliary contraction won't (will not) with the light verb construction make an effort. According to Ludwig AI, it is primarily used to predict a future lack of initiative or motivation on the part of the subject.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

Formal & Business

Social Media

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "won't make an effort" is a reliable and grammatically correct verb phrase used to signal a predicted lack of action or motivation. Data from Ludwig shows it is a staple in news reporting, instructional guides, and even academic commentary when predicting human or institutional behavior. While its frequency is labeled as rare for exact matches in this specific dataset, its components are ubiquitous in the English language. Writers should feel confident using it in neutral and informal contexts to highlight a subject's expected passivity. For maximum impact, ensure that the future-oriented nature of the phrase is intended, as it serves as a powerful tool for setting expectations or issuing warnings about potential failure due to lack of initiative.

More alternative expressions(10)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will not try

More direct and simpler, removing the idiomatic component of making an effort.

won't put in the work

Focuses specifically on the labor or energy required rather than a general effort.

won't attempt

Focuses on the lack of the initial step or trying a specific task.

doesn't bother

More casual and implies a lack of care or interest alongside the lack of action.

won't lift a finger

A strong idiom emphasizing extreme laziness or complete refusal to help.

refuses to exert themselves

Significantly more formal and attributes the inaction to a conscious choice.

won't go to any trouble

Focuses on the subject avoiding personal inconvenience or extra steps.

won't strive

Suggests a lack of higher ambition or long-term goal-seeking behavior.

will neglect to try

Implies a failure of duty or a passive omission of the necessary action.

lacks the will to act

More descriptive and psychological, analyzing the root cause of the inaction.

FAQs

How to use "won't make an effort" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe expected inaction, such as: "If you don't offer a reward, they probably won't make an effort to finish the task."

What can I say instead of "won't make an effort"?

You can use alternatives like "won't try", "won't bother", or "won't exert themselves" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "won't make an effort" and "won't make the effort"?

While very similar, "won't make the effort" often refers to a specific, previously mentioned task, whereas "won't make an effort" is more general.

Which is correct: "won't make an effort" or "won't take an effort"?

The correct idiom is "won't make an effort". Using "won't take an effort" is generally incorrect, though you might say "it won't take much effort" when referring to the difficulty of a task.

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Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Source & Trust

88%

Authority and reliability

4.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

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won't make an effortGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

won't make an effort
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples