[KyleGoetz]

Thanks, Nagoyankee. I came across it because I'm making some flashcards for the Joyo kanji that are in files for a really good flashcard program called 暗記. I know there's a need for good ones.

Basically, while adding the JLPT3 kanji to the list, I came across a reading of 勉 that I'd never seen: つと・める. Thus, I was intrigued enough to ask.

I would definitely use 努める because that's what I always thought was correct.

Thank you for the input. Maybe one day, many decades from now, I'll get to the point where I can even understand this aesthetic preference for using alternate kanji. I don't pretend to understand it now.