Cool MateAttempt vs I'm going to try something
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Attempt
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
I'm going to try something
Top 2,000 (common)
| Attempt | I'm going to try something | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈtempt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈtempt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //aɪm ˈɡəʊɪŋ tə traɪ ˈsʌmθɪŋ//🇺🇸 //aɪm ˈɡoʊɪŋ tə traɪ ˈsʌmθɪŋ// |
| Meaning | To try to do something. | I will attempt to do something new. |
| Example | Her attempt to climb the mountain was met with several challenges. | I'm going to try something different for dinner tonight. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | successful, abortive, botched, make, succeed in, abandon, succeed, fail, in an/the attempt, attempt at, attempt by, an attempt on somebody’s life, at the first, second, etc. attempt, in the first, second, etc. attempt, successful, abortive, botched, make, succeed in, abandon, succeed, fail, in an/the attempt, attempt at, attempt by, an attempt on somebody’s life, at the first, second, etc. attempt, in the first, second, etc. attempt | try something new, try something different, try something exciting |
| Antonyms | abandon, give up, quit | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Attempted to' is often confused with 'tried to'., Learners sometimes use 'attempt' without an object, which is incorrect., Confusion between 'attempt' (to try) and 'achieve' (to succeed). | Overusing 'try' in formal situations; it's often better to use 'attempt'., Confusing 'try' with 'test'; 'try' implies an effort or experimentation. |
| Usage notes | Use 'attempt' when referring to trying to achieve something, especially when the outcome is uncertain. It's suitable in both spoken and written contexts but may sound a bit formal in casual conversation. | Use this phrase when indicating an intention to experiment or do something differently. It's generally informal and suitable for casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Attempt vs I'm going to try something
What's the difference between Attempt and I'm going to try something?
Attempt: To try to do something. I'm going to try something: I will attempt to do something new.
Can you show an example of each?
Attempt: Her attempt to climb the mountain was met with several challenges. I'm going to try something: I'm going to try something different for dinner tonight.
Can I use Attempt and I'm going to try something interchangeably?
Not always. Attempt and I'm going to try something are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.