a better contest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a better contest" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when comparing two or more contests, indicating that one is superior in some way. Example: "This year's competition promises to be a better contest than last year's, with more participants and exciting challenges."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It is a pity Londoners have not been offered a better contest.

The Guardian - Opinion

No matter what happens the rest of the way, this is already a better contest than Williams's last match.

The New York Times

Let's tee off again and go back to the future This week there's been many a wit suggesting that for the Ryder Cup to be a better contest, America should co-opt the help of Mexico and Canada or they bite the warhead and become a Rest of the World team.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The Build A Better Burger Contest is all about the condiments.

Huffington Post

It is best to start small, and eventually build to a bigger, better contest.

WikiHow

But only the most talented cooks, celebrities of the circuit like Ms. Saulsbury, reach the rarefied heights of the hypercompetitive Big 5, a sort of culinary grand slam of contests that includes the $1 million Pillsbury Bake-Off, as well as the Build a Better Burger contest.

The New York Times - Travel

WHEN the oven mitts came off and the knives came out at the 16th annual Build a Better Burger contest in St. Helena, Calif., this fall, a 35-year-old sociology professor named Camilla Saulsbury was the first to draw blood.

The New York Times - Travel

And as it turns out, "The Taste" takes the "Voice" format — blind auditions producing "teams" of contestants chosen by four judges who double as mentors — and turns it into something better than the original, if your definition of a better reality contest includes more rational and less insulting to the intelligence.

The New York Times - Arts

"You get to the point where everything you cook has to be creative; otherwise it's a wasted meal," said Diane Sparrow, a finalist in this year's Build a Better Burger contest, who went cold turkey on cook-offs last year after several years in which she averaged 150 entries.

The New York Times - Travel

They sponsor the annual Write for a Better World contest for 5th to 8th grade student.

Huffington Post

Kim Kardashian is no stranger to going head-to-head with fellow celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Winslet in the who wore it better contest, but we're surprised to see Rachael Ray in this week's contest.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a better contest" when you want to highlight the improvements or superior qualities of a particular competition compared to others. For instance, "This year's tournament promises to be "a better contest" due to the increased skill level of the participants."

Common error

While grammatically sound, avoid using "a better contest" in extremely formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and sophisticated alternatives like "a superior competition" or "an improved event" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a better contest" functions as a noun phrase, where "better" modifies the noun "contest". Based on Ludwig AI, it serves to describe a competition that is considered superior or improved compared to another.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a better contest" is a grammatically correct and understandable expression used to describe a competition that is considered superior to another. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it functions as a noun phrase and is primarily found in news and media contexts. While its register is generally neutral, more formal situations may warrant the use of more sophisticated alternatives such as "a superior competition" or "an improved event". Although examples are relatively rare, its meaning is clear and its use is appropriate when highlighting the enhanced qualities of a particular competition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a superior competition

Replaces "contest" with "competition" and "better" with "superior", emphasizing the higher quality.

an improved competition

Substitutes "better" with "improved", suggesting that the contest has been made more effective.

a more compelling match

Replaces "contest" with "match" and "better" with "more compelling", focusing on the engaging nature of the event.

a higher-quality event

Changes the structure to emphasize the overall quality of the event.

a more exciting rivalry

Replaces "contest" with "rivalry" and "better" with "more exciting", highlighting the thrilling aspect of the competition.

a fairer competition

Emphasizes the element of fairness within the competition.

a more competitive event

Focuses on the level of competitiveness in the event.

a more engaging competition

Highlights the captivating quality of the competition.

a steeper challenge

Shifts the focus to the difficulty and demanding nature of the competition.

an elevated competition

Implies that the competition has reached a higher standard or level.

FAQs

How can I use "a better contest" in a sentence?

You can use "a better contest" to compare two competitions, indicating that one is superior to the other. For example, "The organizers aimed to create "a better contest" this year by implementing fairer judging criteria."

What are some alternatives to "a better contest"?

Alternatives include "a superior competition", "an improved event", or "a more compelling match", depending on the specific context.

Is "a better contest" formal or informal?

"A better contest" is generally considered neutral to slightly informal. In more formal settings, consider using alternatives like "a superior competition".

What makes "a better contest" different from "a good contest"?

"A better contest" implies a comparison, suggesting it's superior to another contest. "A good contest" simply indicates that it's enjoyable or of acceptable quality.