Table of Contents
The Quick Answer
If you are looking for the correct spelling, here it is: Attempt is the only correct spelling in standard English.
The word requires a double "t" at the beginning (A-T-T-E-M-P-T). Spelling it as "atempt" with a single "t" is universally considered a grammatical error in professional, academic, and casual writing. If you struggle with this word, you are not alone—it is one of the most frequently misspelled words in the American English language.
Correct Spelling
The definitive way to write this word.
A-T-T-E-M-P-T
Take note of the double "T" at the beginning of the word. This is the only accepted spelling in both American and British English dictionaries.
Common Misspellings
The most frequent errors writers make.
Atempt
Missing the first "t". The most common error.
Attmept
Transposing the "e" and "m". A frequent typing error.
Attemp
Missing the final "t". A severe spelling error.
Why Is This Word Misspelled?
The linguistic breakdown of a notorious spelling trap.
The confusion stems from a clash between English spelling rules and English pronunciation. When we speak the word "attempt," we pronounce the beginning with a single, quick "t" sound. Because our brains associate a single sound with a single letter, our hands naturally want to type a single "t".
The Phonetic Trap
Spoken: uh-TEMPT. The double "t" blends into one sound, tricking the ear into thinking there is only one consonant.
The Etymological Rule
Written: A-T-T-E-M-P-T. The Latin root demands the double consonant, regardless of how it sounds when spoken.
Correct Spelling Breakdown
Analyzing the word syllable by syllable.
at
Prefix (from Latin 'ad-')
tempt
Root (from 'temptare')
No intermediate suffix
Base verb form
Notice how the prefix "at-" ends in "t" and the root "tempt" begins with "t", creating the double "t". The root itself inherently contains the "mp" and final "t" sounds.
Spelling Pattern
The Latin assimilation rule at work.
To understand why the double letters exist, we have to look at Latin. The word comes from the Latin verb attemptare, which translates to "to try." It is built from two parts: the prefix ad- (meaning "to" or "toward") and the root temptare (meaning "to test" or "try").
When the "ad-" prefix attaches to a root starting with "t", it assimilates and becomes "at-", giving us the first double "t". The English language preserved this double consonant to reflect its Latin origins. Therefore, to attempt a task, you must attempt two "t"s.
Noah Webster, the father of American English spelling, intentionally simplified many words (like dropping the "u" in "colour"), but he left "attempt" alone because its Latin roots required the double consonants to retain their structural meaning.
Meaning
What does "attempt" actually mean?
To make an effort
To try to do something, often something difficult.
- She will attempt the climb tomorrow.
- I attempt to learn a new language every year.
- He attempted to fix the sink himself.
An effort to achieve
An act of trying to achieve a goal (noun).
- He made an attempt to fix the leak.
- It was a brave attempt.
- Her first attempt was successful.
To attack or take over
To try to take a physical objective by force.
- The army will attempt the fortress at dawn.
- The rebels attempted the capital city.
- They plotted to attempt the king's life.
An attack or assault
An effort to overcome someone or something (noun).
- The burglary attempt failed.
- There was an attempt on his life.
- The police foiled an assassination attempt.
To endeavor to solve
To make a concerted effort to complete a task.
- I will attempt the difficult puzzle.
- She attempted the math problem for an hour.
- We attempt to answer all emails within a day.
A trial or experiment
A preliminary effort to see if something works.
- It was just an attempt to see if it worked.
- The experiment was a successful attempt.
- His first attempt at baking bread failed.
To try to win
To compete with the aim of achieving a prize.
- He will attempt the world record.
- She plans to attempt the marathon.
- The team will attempt a comeback.
A sports performance
An athlete's effort in a competition (noun).
- Her first attempt was a success.
- He missed the jump on his second attempt.
- The skier's final attempt won the gold.
To try legally
To make an effort in a legal context.
- The lawyer will attempt an appeal.
- They attempted to settle out of court.
- He attempted to claim diplomatic immunity.
A legal try
A formal effort to resolve a matter (noun).
- The court denied his attempt at a mistrial.
- Her attempt to gain custody failed.
- It was an attempt to defraud the system.
Pronunciation (US English)
How to properly say the word in American English.
/əˈtɛmpt/
In American English, the stress is placed on the second syllable (uh-TEMPT). The double consonants are not distinctly pronounced; instead, they create a slight, almost imperceptible pause before the "e".
Syllable Breakdown:
- at
- tempt
Part of Speech & Grammar
How the word transforms across different grammatical forms.
Attempt
The base action. To make an effort to achieve or complete something. It is a transitive verb, meaning it usually needs a direct object.
We will attempt the mission.
Attempt
The actual effort or try itself. Can be pluralized as "attempts" when referring to multiple tries.
That was a good attempt.
Attempted
Describing an action, usually a crime, that was tried but not successfully completed.
He was charged with attempted robbery.
Word Family
Words that share the same root and spelling patterns.
Words Commonly Confused With It
Understanding the difference between similar concepts.
Attempt vs. Try
Attempt is more formal than try. You attempt a difficult task, but you try a new food. Example: The scientist will attempt the experiment. I will try the apple pie.
Attempt vs. Commit
Attempt means to try but not necessarily succeed. Commit means to actually carry out the action. Example: He attempted the crime. He committed the crime.
Similar-Looking Words
Visual traps that cause spelling errors.
Tempt
Means to entice or persuade. Has one "t" at the beginning.
Contempt
Means the feeling that someone is beneath consideration. Has a "c" prefix.
How to Remember the Spelling
Memory tricks & mnemonics to lock it in forever.
1. The "Try Twice" Mnemonic
The most famous trick. Say to yourself: "Attempt has two T's because you might have to Try Twice." This plays directly on the meaning of the word, tying the spelling to its definition.
2. The "At" + "Tempt" Trick
Think about what the word means—trying. The word is literally built by combining "at" and "tempt". Since both words end and start with "t", they share the double "t".
3. The "Attack" Pattern
Visualize the word as a pattern of doubles. Both "attack" and "attempt" start with "att-". If you know how to spell attack, you know how to spell attempt.
4. The "Two Tries" Trick
Remember that the word starts with "Two Tries". Two Tries = Two T's. If you are making an attempt, you are giving it at least two tries.
Common Collocations
Words that are frequently used together with "attempt".
- Make an attempt
- Attempt a task
- Attempt to escape
- Failed attempt
- Attempt a rescue
- Successful attempt
50 Example Sentences
See the word in action across 5 distinct contexts.
Sports & Competitions
- The gymnast will attempt a highly difficult dismount.
- He failed his first attempt at the high jump.
- She plans to attempt the world record next year.
- The runner made a brave attempt to catch the leader.
- Our team will attempt a new strategy in the second half.
- The skier's attempt was flawless despite the bad weather.
- They watched him attempt the triple axel.
- It was his third attempt at qualifying for the Olympics.
- The coach advised her not to attempt the risky move.
- Every attempt to break the tie ended in failure.
Law & Crime
- The suspect was charged with attempted robbery.
- The police foiled an attempt to smuggle diamonds.
- He was convicted of attempted murder.
- The hackers made an attempt to breach the server.
- The investigation revealed an attempt to cover up the evidence.
- She made an attempt to claim false insurance.
- The jury heard about the attempt to bribe the witness.
- Attempted fraud carries a severe penalty in this state.
- The security guard stopped the attempt to break in.
- Any attempt to alter the document is a felony.
Academics & Tests
- You have three attempts to pass the final exam.
- She will attempt the hardest math problem first.
- The professor noted the student's attempt to solve the equation.
- Do not attempt to cheat on the test.
- His first attempt at the essay was excellent.
- The researcher will attempt to replicate the study.
- Students should attempt all questions on the paper.
- It was a valiant attempt to understand the complex theory.
- The teacher praised his attempt to learn a new language.
- We will attempt to finish the lab report by Friday.
Everyday & Personal Goals
- I will attempt to bake a cake from scratch.
- She made an attempt to fix the leaky faucet herself.
- He didn't even attempt to hide his disappointment.
- We should attempt to leave early to avoid traffic.
- It was a weak attempt at humor.
- I attempt to go to the gym every morning.
- She made a half-hearted attempt to clean her room.
- They will attempt to climb the mountain this summer.
- My attempt to grow tomatoes failed again.
- Don't attempt to carry all those bags at once.
Professional & Business
- We will attempt to launch the product by Q3.
- The manager made an attempt to mediate the conflict.
- Please do not attempt to fix the machine yourself.
- The company will attempt a merger next month.
- His attempt to negotiate a better salary was successful.
- We should attempt to contact the client today.
- The team's attempt to innovate was praised by the CEO.
- Do not attempt to access restricted files.
- She will attempt to finish the project ahead of schedule.
- Any attempt to bypass the protocol will be logged.
Everyday Usage
How to use the word in casual, daily life.
In daily conversation, "attempt" is often used when talking about personal goals or trying to fix things around the house. For example, telling a friend, "I will attempt to bake a cake" means you will give it a try. It is a slightly formal way to say "try," often implying that the task is challenging.
- I will attempt to bake a cake from scratch.
- She made an attempt to fix the leaky faucet herself.
- He didn't even attempt to hide his disappointment.
- We should attempt to leave early to avoid traffic.
- It was a weak attempt at humor.
Academic Usage
How to use the word in essays and research.
In academic writing, "attempt" is frequently used to describe a student's effort on a test or a researcher's effort to solve a problem. For instance, "The researcher will attempt to replicate the study." It highlights the rigorous nature of academic trials and experiments.
- You have three attempts to pass the final exam.
- She will attempt the hardest math problem first.
- The professor noted the student's attempt to solve the equation.
- The researcher will attempt to replicate the study.
- Students should attempt all questions on the paper.
Professional Usage
How to use the word in business and corporate settings.
In business emails, "attempt" is used to describe project goals and troubleshooting efforts. Saying "We will attempt to launch the product by Q3" sounds much more professional than "We will try to launch it." It implies a structured, serious effort toward a business objective.
- We will attempt to launch the product by Q3.
- The manager made an attempt to mediate the conflict.
- Please do not attempt to fix the machine yourself.
- His attempt to negotiate a better salary was successful.
- We should attempt to contact the client today.
Formal vs. Casual Usage
Knowing when to use "attempt" vs. simpler synonyms.
Formal / Professional
- The team will attempt to launch the product by the third quarter.
- We made an attempt to contact the client regarding the overdue invoice.
- Please do not attempt to repair the device while it is plugged in.
- The suspect was charged with attempted robbery and grand larceny.
- Any attempt to bypass the security protocol will result in termination.
Casual / Everyday
- The team will try to get the product out by summer.
- We tried calling him about the money he owes us.
- Don't try to fix the TV yourself, just call a guy.
- He tried to rob the store but got scared and ran.
- If you try to skip the line, they'll kick you out.
Synonyms, Antonyms & Rhyming Words
Words related to, opposite of, and sounding like attempt.
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning)
Common Mistakes
Avoid these frequent spelling pitfalls.
She will atempt the climb.
✓ She will attempt the climb.
Explanation: "Atempt" is missing the first "t". This is the most common error in American English.
Tip: Remember it needs two T's because you might have to "Try Twice".
He made an attmept.
✓ He made an attempt.
Explanation: "Attmept" transposes the "m" and the "e".
Tip: It takes double T, then E, then M. Think "at-tempt".
It was a good attemp.
✓ It was a good attempt.
Explanation: Missing the final "t".
Tip: Always pronounce the final "t" in your head when writing.
They atempted to fix it.
✓ They attempted to fix it.
Explanation: The past tense keeps the double "t" from the base word.
Tip: If the root has double letters, the past tense does too.
I will atempt to learn.
✓ I will attempt to learn.
Explanation: Even in casual writing, the double "t" is strictly required.
Tip: Auto-correct often misses this; proofread manually.
He made an atempt.
✓ He made an attempt.
Explanation: Writers often miss the first "t" due to hurried typing.
Tip: Write the word out slowly: A-T-T-E-M-P-T.
The attemp failed.
✓ The attempt failed.
Explanation: Missing the final "t" due to dropping the ending sound.
Tip: Break it into syllables: at-tempt.
The system will atempt a reboot.
✓ The system will attempt a reboot.
Explanation: Tech contexts frequently suffer from this typo.
Tip: Systems need "Two Tries" (double T) to reboot.
She is atempting the test.
✓ She is attempting the test.
Explanation: Using a single "t" in the present participle form.
Tip: Remember the base word "attempt" never loses its double "t".
Please atempt the question.
✓ Please attempt the question.
Explanation: Missing the first "t".
Tip: Say it out loud: "Double T, E, M, P, T."
Correct vs. Incorrect Examples
Grammar and context usage comparisons.
Incorrect
I will attempt to doing it.
Correct
I will attempt to do it.
Incorrect
She made a attempt.
Correct
She made an attempt.
Incorrect
He attempt the door.
Correct
He attempted the door.
Incorrect
Attempt to the test.
Correct
Attempt the test.
Incorrect
I attempt that I will win.
Correct
I will attempt to win.
Incorrect
She made an attempt on fixing it.
Correct
She made an attempt at fixing it.
Incorrect
The attempts was successful.
Correct
The attempts were successful.
Incorrect
We can attempt your timeline, but it will be hard.
Correct
We can attempt to meet your timeline, but it will be hard.
Incorrect
I am attempting a headache.
Correct
I am suffering from a headache.
Incorrect
The police attempt the robbery.
Correct
The police prevented the robbery.
🎮 Mini Quiz
Test your knowledge with these interactive questions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common questions.
Is 'atempt' ever an accepted spelling?
No. In both American and British English, 'atempt' is universally considered a misspelling. It is never accepted in formal writing, academic papers, or professional publications. The only correct spelling is 'attempt' with two 't's.
Why do people misspell it as 'atempt'?
The primary reason is phonetic. When spoken, the double 't' in the middle of 'attempt' blends into a single 't' sound. Because English is largely phonetic, writers naturally drop the first 't' to match what they hear.
What is the best memory trick for this word?
The most famous mnemonic is: 'Attempt has two T's because you might have to Try Twice.' Another trick is remembering that it is built from 'at' + 'tempt', so the two words share a 't'.
Is 'attempt' spelled differently in the UK?
No. Unlike words such as 'color/colour' or 'center/centre', no spelling reform was applied to 'attempt.' It is spelled with two T's on both sides of the Atlantic.
Can 'attempt' be used as a noun?
Yes. While it is commonly a verb, it is also frequently used as a noun. For example: 'That was a good attempt.' The noun form retains the exact same spelling with the double 't'.
What is the origin of the word attempt?
It comes from the Latin verb 'attemptare', which means 'to try.' It is formed from the prefix 'ad-' (to/toward) and 'temptare' (to test). The assimilation of 'ad-' to 'at-' gives us the first double 't'.
How do you use attempt in a sentence?
You use it as an action verb when trying something, or as a noun for the try itself. For example: 'I will attempt to call you' (verb) or 'He made a brave attempt' (noun).
Is attempt a formal word?
Yes, it is considered a formal and professional word. It is highly appropriate for business emails, academic writing, and legal documents, sounding much more polished than synonyms like 'try' or 'shot.'
Does attempt have a prefix and a root?
Yes. The prefix is 'at-' (a variation of 'ad-' meaning 'to' or 'toward'), and the root is 'temptare' (meaning 'to test'). Together, they literally mean 'to try toward something.'
What is the difference between attempt and try?
They mean the same thing, but 'attempt' is more formal. You 'try' a new food, but you 'attempt' a difficult task. 'Attempt' often implies that the task requires significant effort or has a high chance of failure.
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