Can a concerted effort be made by one person?
I believe that, in the same way as a concert is a performance of a group (if it's a soloist, then it's a recital), a concerted effort is also a collective business. But I'm not quite sure. Maybe, when you "force your heart and nerve and sinew" (If by R.Kipling), it's also a concerted effort?
Solution 1:
Yes it can. The definition of the verb "to concert" is:
verb (used with object)
to contrive or arrange by agreement: "They were able to concert a settlement of their differences."
to plan; devise: "A program of action was concerted at the meeting."
verb (used without object)
- to plan or act together.
Based on definition 8 above, it clearly can be used without others being involved. For example:
The boy made a planned effort to turn in his homework on time.
The boy made a devised effort to turn in his homework on time.
The boy made a concerted effort to turn in his homework on time.
I suppose that just as a singular person can disconcert himself, so can he concert himself. I'm being tongue-in-cheek, of course. I realize that much like pertinent and impertinent are not opposites, neither are concert and disconcert. Such foray is only to demonstrate that words are not always what they seem at first blush.