Attempt is usually followed by to + verb or at + noun/gerund. The phrase in an attempt to is common. Of attempt is not a standard combination.
Use attempt to do something, an attempt at something, or in an attempt to do something. The phrase of attempt is not idiomatic in standard English. In attempt without an article is also uncommon; English normally uses in an attempt to.
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
Use attempt to followed by a verb to describe an action someone tries to complete.
Use attempt at before a noun or gerund when describing the area or activity involved.
Use in an attempt to to explain why an action was taken.
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Attempt is not normally followed by of in this meaning.
✕ an attempt of escape ✓ an attempt to escapeThe fixed expression usually includes an before attempt.
✕ They met early in attempt to finish. ✓ They met early in an attempt to finish.Use attempt to + verb, not attempt at + verb.
✕ She made an attempt at solve it. ✓ She made an attempt to solve it.Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.
Usually no. English normally uses in an attempt to followed by a verb.
Yes. Attempt at can be followed by a noun or gerund, such as an attempt at repairing the door.
Not as a normal noun-preposition combination. Other structures such as attempt to or attempt at are standard.
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