We will make every effort to

Grammatically, it’s a powerhouse. You always follow it with a base verb: to meet, to provide, to resolve. It almost always appears in the first-person plural (we) because it represents a company or a team. Even if you're a freelancer, using we here can make you sound more like a structured business. Pro tip: don't use it for things you definitely can do. If someone asks if you can send a PDF, saying we will make every effort to send the PDF makes it sound like sending an email is as hard as climbing Everest. Save it for the big stuff!

This phrase lives in the 'Very Formal' neighborhood. You’ll find it in contracts, formal business letters, and high-level customer service responses. It’s the kind of language used by a CEO during a press conference or an airline when your flight is canceled. In a casual text to a friend about meeting for tacos, it would sound hilariously out of place. Unless you’re trying to be funny, don’t tell your roommate you’ll 'make every effort' to take out the trash. They’ll think you’ve been replaced by a corporate AI bot.

You’ll see this all over the digital world today. Check the status page of your favorite streaming service when they go down. They won't say 'We'll try to fix it'; they’ll say, We will make every effort to restore service as quickly as possible. It’s also common in job offer letters: We will make every effort to ensure your transition into the team is seamless. It shows a level of care that goes beyond a standard checklist. Even on TikTok, you might see a creator post an apology: I will make every effort to respond to all your DMs this week! (Spoiler: they probably won't, but the sentiment is nice).

Use this when the relationship matters more than the specific result. It’s a trust-builder. Use it when there’s a delay you didn't cause, or when a customer is upset and needs to feel heard. It’s also great for project management when setting milestones. 'We will make every effort to hit the Friday deadline' tells your boss you're going to be working late without technically promising you'll be finished. It’s the perfect blend of 'I’m a hard worker' and 'I’m not a magician.'

Avoid this phrase for small, guaranteed tasks. If you’re just going to the store, don’t tell your partner you’ll 'make every effort' to buy milk. It sounds suspiciously like you're planning to fail. Also, don't use it if you actually *can't* do something. It’s not a polite way to say 'no.' If a client asks for a 90% discount, don't say you'll 'make every effort' to get it approved if you know the boss will say no. That’s just dragging out the pain. Be honest, then use this phrase for the stuff you actually want to achieve.

One of the most frequent errors is pluralizing 'effort.' People often say ✗ make every efforts, but in this specific idiom, 'effort' is singular and uncountable. Another slip-up is changing the verb. You don't ✗ do every effort. Effort is something you make. Think of it like a cake—you make it, you don't do it. Also, watch out for the 'to.' It’s essential. You can't just say ✗ we will make every effort meeting the deadline. It has to be to meet. It’s the bridge that connects your hard work to the actual goal.

If you want to sound even more like a 19th-century lawyer, you can say We shall make every effort to. The shall adds an extra layer of 'I am very serious and possibly wearing a suit.' For a slightly softer version, try We will do our utmost to. In the UK, you might hear We will do our level best to. In a more modern, slightly less stiff office, people might say We'll do everything we can to. They all mean roughly the same thing, but make every effort remains the champion of formal commitment.

Is this phrase legally binding? Not usually, but it shows a high level of intent that can be important in 'best efforts' contracts. Can I use it in a DM? Only if you're being a bit sarcastic or talking to a client on LinkedIn. Is 'every effort' better than 'all efforts'? Yes, 'every effort' is the standard idiom and sounds much more natural to a native speaker. Does it imply I might fail? Subtly, yes. It acknowledges that obstacles exist, which is why it feels more honest than a simple 'I will.'