try (trial) and error

You've probably heard both "I will try and finish it" and "I will try to finish it." For clear, formal writing, use "try to." "Try and" is common in speech and informal messages but can sound vague or sloppy on paper.

Quick answer

"Try to" is the standard choice. Reserve "try and" for relaxed conversation.

"I will try to finish the report." - standard and correct for writing.
"I'll try and call you later." - common in speech; avoid in formal emails.
If you mean to make an attempt at an action, prefer "try to" for clarity.

Core explanation: what's happening with "try and" vs "try to"

"Try to" links try directly to an infinitive: try + to + verb (I will try to arrive on time). That construction expresses effort toward that action.

"Try and" is a colloquial pattern that often stands in for "try to." In speech it works, but on paper it can look like two actions: try, and then do. Because formal grammar treats try as a control verb that takes an infinitive complement, the infinitive is the safer choice in writing.

Use "try to" in instructions, formal emails, and academic work.
Use "try and" only in informal speech or when you want a conversational tone.

Wrong: I will try and finish the report by Monday.
Right: I will try to finish the report by Monday.

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

"Try and" sounds friendly and unassuming in conversation. In transcripts or quoted casual messages, it preserves voice. For business, academic, or formal prose, "try to" reads cleaner and avoids ambiguity.

Casual speech: acceptable - "I'll try and grab lunch around 12."
Formal writing: avoid "try and" - "I will try to provide the data by Friday."

Work: fixing "try and" in professional sentences

At work, aim for precise language. Replace "try and" with "try to" or choose a stronger verb (will, plan, intend) when you want to reduce uncertainty.

Work - Wrong: I will try and send the budget before the meeting.
Work - Right: I will try to send the budget before the meeting.
Work - Wrong: We'll try and get the QA report to you today.
Work - Right: We'll try to get the QA report to you today.
Work - Wrong: I will try and update the Slides deck after lunch.
Work - Right: I'll update the slide deck after lunch. (clearer commitment)

School and academic examples: clarity matters

In essays, lab reports, and emails to instructors, formal phrasing helps graders and readers understand your intent quickly. Prefer "try to," or choose alternatives like "attempt to" or "plan to" when appropriate.

School - Wrong: I will try and complete the literature review this week.
School - Right: I will try to complete the literature review this week.
School - Wrong: I'll try and run the experiment tomorrow.
School - Right: I'll attempt to run the experiment tomorrow.
School - Wrong: We will try and include more participant data in the appendix.
School - Right: We will try to include more participant data in the appendix.

Try your own sentence

Read the whole sentence aloud. If the action after "try" is the intended target, swap to "try to." If you want to sound more decisive, use "will," "plan to," or "intend to."

Casual speech and messages: when "try and" is natural

For texts and friendly chats, "try and" is natural. If the audience is uncertain, default to "try to." In short messages, you can often shorten to "I'll try" when the action is obvious.

Casual - Wrong: I'll try and come over later tonight.
Casual - Right: I'll try to come over later tonight.
Casual - Wrong: Try and let me know when you're free.
Casual - Right: Try to let me know when you're free.
Casual - Tip: Use "I'll try" when context already makes the verb clear.

Rewrite help: fix your sentence in three quick steps

Checklist: identify the verb, decide how certain you are, pick the clearest construction, then read it aloud for tone.

Step 1: Find the verb after "try" (finish, call, submit).
Step 2: Choose form: try to + verb | will/plan + verb | I'll try + verb.
Step 3: Replace or rephrase and check tone by reading aloud.

Rewrite:
Original: "I will try and finish the presentation." → "I will try to finish the presentation."
Rewrite:
Original: "I will try and get back to you." → "I'll try to get back to you."
Rewrite:
Original: "We'll try and reduce costs." → "We plan to reduce costs." (for commitment)

Memory tricks, punctuation, hyphenation, and spacing

Mnemonic: "try to" = target (to + verb). If inserting "to" keeps the meaning, use it. Never hyphenate "try to" (not "try-to"). Contractions like "I'll" don't change the rule.

Never write "try-to" with a hyphen; use a space: "try to."
Comma placement remains the same: "I'll try to, but I can't promise anything."
Think: formal writing = "try to"; casual speech = "try and" acceptable.

Similar mistakes and a short grammar note

"Try and" is one of several colloquial pairings (compare "go and see" or "come and"). The safe editorial rule: swap informal pairings for the infinitive in writing.

Grammar note: try is a control verb that normally selects an infinitive complement ("try to do something"). While many dialects use "try and" idiomatically, formal grammar still prefers the infinitive.

Similar cases: "come and" vs "come to" (dialectal), "let's go and" vs "let's go" (often redundant).
When proofreading, search for "try and" and decide if the tone allows it; otherwise swap to "try to."

FAQ

Is "try and" grammatically correct?

In speech it's widespread and widely understood, but "try to" is the standard, recommended form for writing.

Should I write "I will try and" in an email to my boss?

No. Use "I will try to" or, better, "I will" / "I plan to" to reduce ambiguity and sound professional.

Can I say "try and" in a text message?

Yes. In casual texts to friends or family, "try and" is natural. If unsure about tone, use "try to."

How do I fix "I'll try and" when proofreading my essay?

Search for "try and" and replace with "try to." For more certainty, use "I intend to" or "I plan to."

Is there a quick rule to remember?

Yes: for formal writing, always use "try to." For speech, "try and" is okay. Replace "try" with stronger verbs (plan, intend, will) when you need to show commitment.

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