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a first attempt vs first attempt

Both 'a first attempt' and 'first attempt' are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'A first attempt' is used when emphasizing the ordinal number of the attempt, while 'first attempt' is used when referring to the initial or primary attempt without emphasizing the ordinal number.

Last updated: March 24, 2024 • 790 views

a first attempt

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when emphasizing the ordinal number of the attempt.

Use 'a first attempt' when you want to emphasize that it is the initial or primary attempt and specify the ordinal number of the attempt.

Examples:

  • She made a first attempt at solving the puzzle.
  • It was just a first attempt, so don't worry about the result.
  • He failed in his first attempt to climb the mountain.
  • As you know, the Finnish presidency made a first attempt in 1999, which failed.
  • We need to take a pragmatic approach in order to gain those benefits of an increased return for our savers in a first attempt at defusing the pensions time-bomb.
  • This system for monitoring CO2 emissions is therefore very much a first attempt and we should have no illusions about this.
  • The report also makes a first attempt to create coherence between the external and internal human rights policy of the European Union, especially the latter being a real innovative step.
  • Starting at the end of 1998, it launched a first attempt at selling 100 % of the shares. This attempt failed in July 1999.
  • This is a first attempt, as many people have said, at talking about the reform of the common fisheries policy in 2002.
  • I welcome the voting of the decision to mobilize the fund, which represents a first attempt to support our European citizens who face the challenges of globalisation.
  • Mr President, Commissioners, ladies and gentlemen, I am very pleased about this debate as it represents a first attempt for us to reach compromises on a very major project that will occupy us for the next few years.
  • Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner Vitorino is right to say that this represents a first attempt at laying down unified rules on legal immigration by workers and the self-employed.
  • Mr Barón Crespo, who speaks all the languages of the EU - a factor that obviously simplifies the debates - was right in saying that ours is a first attempt at democratic construction going beyond the nation state.
  • In the framework of the Task Force Recovery, a first attempt has been made to audit the completeness and reliability of the communications and its updates by the Member States.
  • This appears to be a first attempt to deal separately with these regions that are now scattered as "phasing in" or "phasing out" regions between the two Objectives.
  • The Commission has been occupied for some time in drawing up the report relating to article 128.4, but in reality that work is merely a first attempt to assess the magnitude of the Community's commitment in the cultural area.
  • It is a first attempt, but I am convinced that this attempt may be successful.
  • Last year's biodiversity communication represents a first attempt by the European Union to set out a coherent response to the problem of biodiversity loss.
  • In 1965 a first attempt to transfer customs duties and agricultural levies - the "natural" own resources deriving from Community policies (the customs union and the common agricultural policy) - failed in the face of French opposition.
  • A first attempt has also been made to collect harmonised data on public expenditure based on common concepts, definitions and methodologies but the results were not considered of sufficient quality to be published.
  • That is, I would say we have now had a first go, a first attempt at outlining what this neutral tax system will be, allowing trade to function but with a slight preference so as to be able to maintain traditional activities.
  • For a first attempt, I am very impressed.
  • As a first attempt, this report is important, but there are many things that it considers only half-heartedly or too vaguely.

Alternatives:

  • an initial attempt
  • the first try
  • the primary effort
  • the first shot
  • the initial trial

first attempt

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when referring to the initial or primary attempt without emphasizing the ordinal number.

Use 'first attempt' when you want to refer to the initial or primary attempt without specifying the ordinal number of the attempt.

Examples:

  • Her first attempt at baking a cake was a success.
  • He decided to make a first attempt at repairing the car.
  • The team's first attempt to score a goal failed.
  • The score for the first attempt is there and you can see it for each assignment. But I have 200 students and 10 assignments. Getting the data one assignment ...
  • May 2, 2024 ... How To Pass The PMP In Your First Attempt · 1. Understand your why: It's easy to lose motivation and just procrastinate, so having a strong ...
  • First-attempt success rate of video laryngoscopy in small infants (VISI): a multicentre, randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2020 Dec 12;396(10266):1905- ...
  • Dec 22, 2020 ... I have noticed a pattern in from soft games especially in dark souls 3 that when you first fight a boss, your very first attempt are easiest compared to ...
  • Sep 18, 2018 ... Are you able to resolve DNS at the first attempt? It seems like your first request does not get resolved by the VPN client assigned DNS server, ...
  • Jun 24, 2022 ... Today, I became a Salesforce Certified Admin after 30 days of studying Salesforce and passing my exam on the first attempt. Here's how I did ...
  • Mar 16, 2022 ... Just trying to get my first attempt at using HOPS working and I nothing appears on the HOPS component after setting the path to the attached GH file.
  • Mar 17, 2022 ... A mistake is not purely a failure, it is an opportunity for a first attempt in learning. In short, if you understand and subsequently own your mistakes, you ...
  • Nov 16, 2022 ... Re: First Attempt Log In Error Message ... Hi Mich, Sorry to hear it's happening to you as well. Sadly, this is still an issue that I have and has ...
  • in 17 hours ... A first attempt to model global hydrology at hyper-resolution. Barry van Jaarsveld, Niko Wanders, Edwin H. Sutanudjaja, Jannis Hoch, Bram ...

Alternatives:

  • initial attempt
  • primary try
  • opening effort
  • starting shot
  • beginning trial

Related Comparisons

at first attempt vs on first attempt a good first impression vs a first good impression first attempt vs First try on the first try vs on the first attempt as a validation attempt vs as a mean of validation that are required to understand vs as a pilot attempt

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