The phrase "try try" is most instantly recognized as the core of the timeless maxim: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." This simple repetition of a common verb encapsulates one of the most fundamental human virtues—perseverance. While the phrase appears simple on the surface, it serves as a bridge between historical poetry, modern psychological resilience, complex computer programming, and global pop culture. Understanding the depth of this expression requires looking beyond the literal meaning of the words to explore why humans are hardwired to repeat efforts in the face of failure.

The Origins of the Try Try Again Proverb

The full proverb, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again," is often attributed to various historical figures, but its most documented popularization came from the British educator William Edward Hickson in the 19th century. In his work The Singing Master (1836), Hickson used these lines to instill a sense of grit in children. However, the sentiment predates him, appearing in different forms in American educational texts like T.H. Palmer’s The Teacher’s Manual around the same period.

Historically, this phrase was more than just a motivational quote; it was a pedagogical tool. In an era where formal education was becoming standardized, teachers needed a concise way to explain that failure was a natural part of the learning process. The repetition of the word "try" emphasizes that the second attempt is just as important as the first, and the third is just as vital as the second. It reframes failure not as a terminal point, but as a data-gathering exercise.

The Psychology of Perseverance and the Growth Mindset

Modern psychology provides a scientific foundation for why the "try try" philosophy is effective. At the heart of this concept is what Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck calls the "Growth Mindset." Individuals with a growth mindset believe that their abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. For them, "trying again" is the mechanism through which the brain builds new neural pathways.

The Role of Dopamine in Repeated Effort

When a person attempts a task and fails, the brain experiences a drop in dopamine. However, the act of deciding to "try try" again can actually stimulate the prefrontal cortex to reorganize its approach. This is closely related to the concept of "Grit," a term popularized by Angela Duckworth. Grit is the passion and sustained persistence applied toward long-term goals. The phrase "try try" serves as a cognitive trigger that shifts the focus from the ego-bruising impact of failure to the task-oriented process of improvement.

Resilience vs. Insanity

A common critique of the "try try again" philosophy is the quote often attributed to Albert Einstein: "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." To truly embody the "try try" spirit effectively, one must distinguish between blind repetition and iterative persistence. Effective persistence involves analyzing what went wrong in the first "try" and adjusting the variables for the second "try." It is a cycle of hypothesis, testing, failure, and refinement.

Understanding Try in Technical Contexts

In the 21st century, "try" has moved from the classroom to the code editor. For developers, especially those working with the Swift programming language developed by Apple, try is a critical keyword used for error handling. It represents a systematic way for a program to handle "failure" without crashing.

The Nuances of Swift Error Handling

In Swift, functions that can fail are marked with the throws keyword. To call these functions, a developer must use one of three variations of try, each representing a different level of risk management:

  1. try: This is the standard approach. It is used within a do-catch block. If the function fails, the program jumps to the catch block to handle the error gracefully.
  2. try?: This variation converts the result into an optional value. If the function succeeds, you get the data; if it fails, you get nil. This is ideal for non-critical tasks where you don't necessarily need to know why it failed, just that it did.
  3. try!: This is known as "forced try." It tells the compiler, "I am certain this will not fail." However, if the function does throw an error, the application will trigger a runtime crash.

Experience with Error Propagation

In real-world software engineering, the choice between these keywords defines the stability of an application. For instance, using try! might be acceptable in a prototype or when loading a mandatory resource that is guaranteed to be in the app bundle. However, in production environments—such as fetching data from a remote API—relying on try! is considered a major anti-pattern. A seasoned developer uses try with a robust do-catch strategy to ensure that even when the "first try" (the network request) fails, the user experience remains intact through a secondary "try" (perhaps loading cached data).

The Cultural Impact of Try Try in Music and Pop Culture

The phrase "try try" or "try" has resonated deeply with artists, serving as a theme for anthems of resilience and heartbreak.

The Smashing Pumpkins: Try, Try, Try

One of the most notable uses in rock music is the song "Try, Try, Try" by The Smashing Pumpkins from their 2000 album Machina/The Machines of God. The lyrics and the accompanying short film directed by Jonas Åkerlund depict a stark, often painful reality of struggle. In this context, "try try try" isn't just about a cheerful "don't give up"; it’s about the grueling, sometimes tragic cycle of trying to find beauty or survival in difficult circumstances.

Puer and Korean Hip-Hop

In the 2026 track "Try Try" (feat. Yyeon) by Puer, the phrase is used to describe the persistent, almost obsessive nature of modern relationships. The lyrics "Try try 계속해서" (Try try, continuously) reflect the emotional labor of attempting to reconnect or move on. This illustrates how the phrase has evolved to describe emotional persistence in the digital age, where "trying" often involves the repetitive nature of communication and social media interaction.

Pink: The Anthem of Resilience

While the song is titled simply "Try," Pink’s hit serves as a powerful modern interpretation of the "try try again" proverb. The chorus, "You gotta get up and try, and try, and try," emphasizes that the act of trying is a physical necessity for survival in the face of emotional pain. It reinforces the idea that desire and failure are two sides of the same coin: "Where there is desire, there is gonna be a flame / Where there is a flame, someone's bound to get burned / But just because it burns, doesn't mean you're gonna die."

Linguistic Nuances of the Word Try

The word "try" functions as a versatile tool in the English language, with meanings that extend far beyond a simple attempt.

Legal Definition: To Try a Case

In the legal world, to "try" someone is to examine evidence in a court of law to determine guilt or innocence. A "trial" is the noun form of this process. This usage dates back to the Old French word trier, meaning "to sift" or "to pick out." When a judge tries a case, they are essentially sifting through the facts to find the truth. This adds a layer of "testing" and "investigation" to our understanding of the word.

Sports: The Rugby Try

In Rugby Union and Rugby League, a "try" is a method of scoring points by touching the ball down in the opponent's in-goal area. Interestingly, the name comes from "try at goal." In the early days of the sport, touching the ball down didn't actually score points; it merely gave the attacking team the right to "try" a kick at the goal. Over time, the "try" became the primary method of scoring, but the name stuck—a linguistic fossil of a time when the attempt was a prerequisite for the actual score.

Strategies for Effective Perseverance

Simply repeating an action is rarely enough. To live the "try try" philosophy successfully, one must adopt specific strategies that transform repetition into progress.

1. The Feedback Loop

Every failure contains a lesson. Before the second "try," ask:

  • What specific variable caused the failure?
  • Was the failure due to lack of skill, lack of resources, or external factors?
  • What is the smallest change I can make to improve the outcome?

2. Deliberate Practice

Coined by psychologist K. Anders Ericsson, deliberate practice is the act of trying with a specific goal of improvement. It requires focused attention and often involves pushing oneself just beyond one's current comfort zone. This is the difference between a beginner pianist playing the same song poorly ten times and a student practicing only the difficult three-bar transition until it is perfect.

3. Managing "Try" Fatigue

Persistence is a finite resource. Burnout occurs when "trying" becomes a mechanical burden without emotional or logical reward. To avoid this, it is essential to set "stop-loss" limits. Knowing when to stop trying a specific method is just as important as knowing to keep trying the goal. Sometimes, "try try again" means trying a completely different path to the same destination.

The Significance of Try Try for Children

The "try try" message is perhaps most vital in early childhood development. Children’s media, such as the JBBearz animated songs, frequently use "try try" to teach self-regulation. When a child learns to tie their shoes or ride a bike, they are not just learning a physical skill; they are learning a psychological script. By repeating "I'll try try," they replace the "I can't" internal monologue with a process-oriented one. This builds foundational self-efficacy that lasts into adulthood.

Conclusion

The phrase "try try" is far more than a repetitive stutter or a simple rhyme. It is a linguistic anchor for the human spirit. Whether it is a programmer using try to prevent a system crash, a legal team "trying" a complex case, or an individual listening to a song to find the strength to "try again" after a heartbreak, the core sentiment remains the same: the value lies in the effort.

Success is rarely a straight line; it is a jagged path of attempts, failures, and recalibrations. By embracing the "try try" philosophy, we acknowledge that while we cannot control every outcome, we have absolute agency over our next attempt. In a world of instant gratification, the willingness to "try, try again" remains the ultimate competitive advantage.

FAQ

What is the full version of the "try try" proverb?

The full proverb is: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." It encourages persistence after an initial failure.

Who wrote the poem "Try, Try Again"?

The poem is most famously attributed to William Edward Hickson, a British educational writer, in his 1836 publication The Singing Master.

What does the try keyword do in Swift programming?

In the Swift programming language, try is used to call functions that can throw errors. It forces the developer to handle potential failures, either through a do-catch block, by converting the result to an optional (try?), or by asserting that the call will not fail (try!).

Is there a difference between "try to do" and "try doing"?

Yes. "Try to do" usually means making an effort to achieve something difficult (e.g., "I tried to open the window"). "Try doing" often implies an experiment to see if a specific action will solve a problem (e.g., "Try restarting your computer").

Why is the word "try" used in Rugby?

It originates from the early rules of the game where touching the ball down in the end zone gave the team a "try at goal" (a kick). Eventually, the act of touching the ball down became a score in itself, but retained the name "try."