make an attempt/effort/try (try)

Many writers use "make an attempt" or "make an effort" where the single verb "try" would be clearer. The longer phrases are correct but often wordier or more formal than needed.

Quick answer

Default to try. Prefer "try to" or "tried" in speech, emails, essays, and most professional writing. Keep "make an attempt / make an effort" when a noun is required, when you need formal/passive wording, or when you want to stress the exertion.

Default: I'll try to finish it by Friday. - clear and idiomatic.
Noun needed / formal record: An attempt was made to recover the file.
To stress effort: She tried hard, or She made a serious effort.

Core grammar: when try is better

"Try" is a verb (try, tried, trying). "Make an attempt" and "make an effort" are verb + noun constructions that often add extra words without changing meaning.

Use "try" for direct, concise sentences. Use the longer phrase when grammar demands a noun (e.g., passive voice), when formality is required, or when the noun better highlights the effort.

Verb: She tried to open the file.
Verb + noun: She made an attempt to open the file. (wordier)
Attempt as verb: She attempted to open the file. (formal and concise)

Real usage: tone, register, and nuance

Most casual and professional contexts favor "try." Formal reports, logs, and legal text may use the noun phrase. If you want to record that effort occurred regardless of outcome, the noun is useful; to describe the action itself, use the verb.

Casual: I'll try to call you later.
Work email: I'll try to resolve the bug today. (direct)
Formal/record: An attempt was made to notify all stakeholders. (acceptable)

When the longer phrase is the right choice (exceptions)

Keep "make an attempt" or "make an effort" when the sentence needs a noun, when you want a formal passive construction, or when you deliberately emphasize exertion.

Passive/formal: "An attempt was made to restore the backup."
Emphasis on effort: "She made a real effort to finish despite setbacks."
When the noun is the subject or object: "His attempt failed."

Examples - general wrong/right pairs (copyable)

Wrong: I will make an attempt to fix the computer.
Right: I'll try to fix the computer.
Wrong: She made an effort to learn a new language.
Right: She tried to learn a new language.
Wrong: They made an attempt at resolving the dispute.
Right: They tried to resolve the dispute.
Wrong: We will make an attempt to reduce costs.
Right: We'll try to reduce costs.
Wrong: I will try an attempt to fix it. (mixed/incorrect)
Right: I will try to fix it.
Wrong: He made an effort and failed.
Right: He tried and failed.

Try your own sentence

Test the full sentence, not just the phrase. Context usually shows whether the noun or the verb fits better.

Examples: Work, school, and casual - practical rewrites

Below are ready-to-use rewrites. Pick the tone that fits your audience.

Work:
Original: I will make an attempt to finish the budget review by Monday. → Better: I'll try to finish the budget review by Monday.
Work:
Original: She made an effort to contact the vendor about the invoice. → Better: She tried to contact the vendor about the invoice.
Work: Formal log: "An attempt was made to restore service at 09:15." →
Concise: "We attempted to restore service at 09:15."
School:
Original: I will make an attempt to solve problem 5. → Better: I'll try to solve problem 5.
School:
Original: Students should make an attempt to cite all sources. → Better: Students should try to cite all sources.
School: Reflection: "She made an effort to attend every tutorial despite illness." → Concise
alternative: "She tried hard to attend every tutorial."
Casual:
Original: I'm going to make an attempt to call you later. → Better: I'll try to call you later.
Casual:
Original: Do you want to make an attempt at fixing it yourself? → Better: Do you want to try fixing it yourself?
Casual: Encouragement: Say "Give it a try" or "Give it a shot" instead of "make an attempt."

Rewrite help: a short 3-step fix plus copy-ready rewrites

Follow this quick process to tighten your sentence: identify the phrase, replace it with "try" or "attempt" (verb), and check tone.

Step 1 - Identify: find "make an attempt to" or "made an effort to."
Step 2 - Replace: use "try to"/"tried" or "attempted" (verb).
Step 3 - Tone check: keep the noun for formal/record purposes; use the verb for clarity.

Rewrite: She made an effort to improve her grades. → She tried to improve her grades.
Rewrite: We will make an attempt to contact the client tomorrow. → We'll try to contact the client tomorrow.
Rewrite: He made an attempt at solving the puzzle but failed. → He tried to solve the puzzle but failed.
Rewrite: No attempt was made to back up the database. → They did not back up the database. (more direct)
Rewrite: She made a serious effort to learn French. → She tried hard to learn French.

Memory trick, editing habit, and quick checks

Mnemonic: "Try beats Make." When you see "make + an + (attempt/effort)," ask: can I replace it with "try"? If yes, do it.

Practice edit: each session, swap one verb+noun phrase for a single verb until it feels natural.

'Try beats Make' - visual cue while proofreading.
For emphasis, prefer "tried hard" or "made a serious effort" over the generic noun phrase.

Similar mistakes plus hyphenation and spacing notes

Replace other wordy verb+noun pairs with concise verbs to sharpen prose.

Hyphenation/spacing: neither "make an attempt" nor "make an effort" use hyphens. "Try to" is two words. Only hyphenate true compound modifiers (e.g., "well-intentioned attempt").

Replace "give consideration to" with "consider."
Replace "carry out an action" with "act" or "do."
"Make a try" is incorrect - use "try."
Try and vs try to: "try and" is common in speech; prefer "try to" in formal writing.
Hyphens: don't write make-an-attempt or try-to.

FAQ

Is "make an attempt" incorrect?

No. It's grammatically correct but often wordy. Use it when the noun form fits the grammar or when you need a formal/passive tone or to highlight effort.

Which is better: "try and" or "try to"?

"Try to" is standard in writing. "Try and" is common in spoken English and informal contexts but can sound casual in formal text.

Can I use "attempt" as a verb instead?

Yes. "Attempt" as a verb ("she attempted to...") is concise and suits formal writing better than "make an attempt to."

When should I keep "made an effort"?

Keep it when you want to stress work invested regardless of outcome (performance reviews, reflections). For tighter prose, use "tried hard."

Any quick rewrite templates I can copy?

Yes: "I will try to...", "She tried to...", passive formal: "An attempt was made to...", and for emphasis: "tried hard" or "made a serious effort."

Fix one sentence now

Next time you see "make an attempt" or "make an effort," swap in "try" and read the sentence aloud. If meaning and tone remain appropriate, keep the shorter form.

Paste one sentence into your editor or the widget above to test a rewrite - shorter verbs usually improve clarity.