"in a vain attempt to" vs "in a vain attempt to stop"

Question

"in a vain attempt to" vs "in a vain attempt to stop"

Both phrases are correct, but they have different meanings and usage. "In a vain attempt to stop" implies that the action was taken to try to stop something, while "in a vain attempt to" leaves the purpose of the action open-ended. They are not directly comparable as they serve different purposes.

Last Updated: March 20, 2024

This phrase is used to describe an action that was taken with a sense of futility or hopelessness, without specifying the specific outcome or goal of the action.

Examples:

He tried in a vain attempt to make her understand.
She searched in a vain attempt to find her lost keys.
They argued in a vain attempt to resolve their differences.
The team practiced in a vain attempt to improve their performance.
She smiled in a vain attempt to hide her disappointment.

This phrase is used to describe an action that was carried out with the intention of stopping a particular outcome, but ultimately failed in achieving that goal.

Examples:

He ran in a vain attempt to stop the train from leaving the station.
She shouted in a vain attempt to stop the argument from escalating.
The company implemented new policies in a vain attempt to boost employee morale.
The government imposed strict regulations in a vain attempt to control the spread of the virus.
The teacher intervened in a vain attempt to prevent the students from fighting.

Answer 1

in a vain attempt to

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English. It leaves the purpose of the action open-ended, without specifying a particular goal.

Answer 2

in a vain attempt to stop

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English. It implies that an action was taken with the goal of stopping something, but was unsuccessful.

"in a vain attempt to" vs "in a vain attempt to stop"

in a vain attempt to

in a vain attempt to stop

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