try and (try to)

In speech people often say "I'll try and do it." In writing, "try to" is clearer and safer. Below: a short rule, quick fixes, many wrong/right pairs, context rewrites (work, school, casual), and a simple memory trick.

Quick answer

"Try to" is the grammatically correct, unambiguous choice in writing; "try and" is idiomatic speech and should be avoided in formal text.

"Try to" + base verb expresses an attempt: "I'll try to finish."
"Try and" is common in conversation but sounds casual or incorrect in emails, reports, and papers.
When unsure, replace with "try to" or a stronger verb: "attempt", "aim to", or a specific deadline.

Core explanation (grammar made short)

"Try to" connects try to an infinitive: try to call, tried to finish. That structure works predictably with auxiliaries, negatives, and tense.

"Try and" is a spoken idiom that links try to a following clause; it can suggest sequence or a successful outcome and is less precise in writing.

"Try to" = attempt + verb (standard).
"Try and" = colloquial; fine in speech, risky in formal text.
Prefer stronger verbs (attempt, aim, plan) when you need clarity or commitment.

Wrong: I'll try and finish the report by Friday.
Right: I'll try to finish the report by Friday.
Stronger: I'll finish the report by Friday.

Real usage and tone: when "try and" is acceptable

Use "try and" in casual speech, voice messages, or relaxed chats. For managers, academic papers, contracts, or published copy, use "try to" or a clearer verb.

Friend chat: "I'll try and drop by." - fine in speech.
Professional email: "I'll try to drop by" - acceptable; better: "I'll drop by if I can" or give a time.
Precision matters (deadlines, contracts): avoid "try and."

Casual: "I'll try and get there early." (okay spoken)
Professional: "I will try to complete the tests by Friday." (preferred)
Academic: "We tried to replicate the result." (use this form)

Rewrite help: three fast ways to fix it

When you spot "try and" in writing, run this short checklist.

Step 1: Replace "try and" → "try to" (and "tried and" → "tried to").
Step 2: Check tone. If the sentence still hedges, swap to a stronger verb: "attempt", "aim to", "plan to", or add a deadline.
Step 3: For negatives, restructure: "Try and not..." → "Try not to..." or "Avoid...".

Rewrite-1: Wrong: "Try and be on time." → Fix: "Try to be on time." → Better: "Please be on time."
Rewrite-2: Wrong: "I'll try and finish the draft." → Fix: "I'll try to finish the draft." → Better: "I'll finish the draft by Wednesday."
Rewrite-3: Wrong: "They tried and call support." → Fix: "They tried to call support."

Use editing tools to catch tone slips

Small phrases like "try and" shape readers' judgments. A focused editing pass that flags idioms helps standardize tone without erasing your voice.

A grammar checker will highlight "try and" and suggest alternatives ("try to", "attempt", "aim to") so you can choose the level of commitment you want to convey.

Examples: six common wrong/right pairs (copy-paste fixes)

Six frequent cases where "try and" appears, with corrected forms.

Pair-1: Wrong: "I'll try and finish the report by 5." →
Right: "I'll try to finish the report by 5."
Pair-2: Wrong: "She tried and call you yesterday." →
Right: "She tried to call you yesterday."
Pair-3: Wrong: "We should try and reduce costs this quarter." →
Right: "We should try to reduce costs this quarter."
Pair-4: Wrong: "He'll try and get the keys before you arrive." →
Right: "He'll try to get the keys before you arrive."
Pair-5: Wrong: "They tried and fix the bug, but failed." →
Right: "They tried to fix the bug, but failed."
Pair-6: Wrong: "Try and be quiet when the meeting starts." →
Right: "Try to be quiet when the meeting starts."

Context-specific examples: work, school, casual (with rewrites)

Below are natural (often incorrect) phrasings with one or two cleaner rewrites for different tones.

Work-1: Wrong (informal): "I'll try and send the deck before the meeting." → Neutral: "I'll try to send the deck before the meeting." → Stronger: "I'll send the deck before the meeting."
Work-2: Wrong: "We should try and migrate the data this weekend." →
Rewrite: "We should try to migrate the data this weekend." → Better: "Let's plan to migrate the data this weekend."
Work-3: Wrong: "Try and review the draft." →
Rewrite: "Please try to review the draft." → Better: "Please review the draft by Tuesday."
School-1: Wrong: "Try and finish the reading before class." →
Rewrite: "Try to finish the reading before class." → Instructor: "Please finish the reading before class."
School-2: Wrong: "I tried and solve question 3 but couldn't." →
Rewrite: "I tried to solve question 3 but couldn't." → Better: "I couldn't solve question 3; can we review it?"
School-3: Wrong: "I'll try and get my assignment in on time." →
Rewrite: "I'll try to get my assignment in on time." → Better: "I'll submit my assignment by the deadline."
Casual-1: Spoken/text: "I'll try and call you tonight." → Writing: "I'll try to call you tonight."
Casual-2: Spoken: "Try and not worry about it." → Writing fix: "Try not to worry about it."
Casual-3: Spoken: "Try and stop by if you're free." → Writing: "Try to stop by if you're free." → Friendly: "Stop by if you're free!"

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence, not just the phrase. Context usually makes the correct choice obvious. Paste a line into the checker below to see suggested fixes.

Quick edits checklist (fast scan for editors)

Search for "try and" and "tried and".
Automate replace to "try to"/"tried to", then read each sentence for meaning.
If wording still hedges, pick a stronger verb or add a deadline (e.g., "by Friday").
For negatives, rephrase: "Try and not X" → "Try not to X" or "Avoid X".

Check-example: Replace "I'll try and get it done" → "I'll try to get it done" → if unsure, "I'll get it done by Friday."

Memory trick: 'T-to' link

Think "T-to": the T in try links to the T in to. That mental link makes "try to" your default in writing.

If it sounds like casual speech in your head, it's probably okay for speech; for written communications, say "T-to" and choose "try to".

Mnemonic: When editing, whisper "try-T-to" → write "try to".

Similar mistakes to watch for

If "try and" slips into drafts, other colloquialisms probably do too. Scan for these common errors:

"Could of" → "could have" or "could've".
"Should of" → "should have" or "should've".
"Could care less" → usually intended "couldn't care less".
"Try and" is similar-fix it for a more formal tone.

Wrong-right-1: Wrong: "I could of finished earlier." →
Right: "I could have finished earlier."
Wrong-right-2: Wrong: "He could care less." →
Right: "He couldn't care less."

Hyphenation & spacing notes (short)

No hyphens here. Keep words separate and watch for accidental double spaces after replacements.

Correct: "try to", "tried to".
Wrong: "tryand", "triedand" or merged words.
Watch for extra spaces introduced by find-and-replace.

Spacing: Correct example: "I'll try to finish it."

FAQ

Is "try and" grammatically incorrect?

"Try and" is idiomatic rather than the standard infinitive construction. Native speakers use it in speech, but most style guides recommend "try to" in formal writing.

Can I write "I'll try and" in an email to my boss?

Avoid it. Use "I'll try to" or, better, a specific commitment: "I'll complete it by [time]."

Does "try and" change meaning?

Occasionally. "Try and" can imply sequence or a hopeful success in casual speech. "Try to" simply marks an attempt and is clearer.

What's the fastest way to fix a long document?

Search for "try and" and "tried and", replace with "try to"/"tried to", then read each sentence to ensure meaning. For key lines, choose a stronger verb or add a deadline.

Are there tools that will correct this automatically?

Yes. Grammar checkers flag idiomatic usage like "try and" and suggest "try to" or clearer rewrites to keep tone consistent across documents.

Want a quick grammar check?

Before sending an email or submitting a paper, run a quick pass for "try and" and other colloquialisms. A grammar tool will suggest "try to" or stronger rewrites so you can pick the tone you want.