a close runner-up

USAGE SUMMARY

"a close runner-up" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to someone or something that came in second place, either in a competition or comparison. For example, "John was a close runner-up in the race, finishing just a few seconds behind the winner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

The Runners-Up: As a close runner-up, we chose Dolores's response to "Every Teenager Should Have a Summer of '65".

The New York Times

Bespoke: A close runner-up to "couture".

The New York Times

The Nets are a close runner-up, though.

The New York Times - Magazine

Santorum was a close runner-up in Iowa.

The Guardian

ABC was a close runner-up, largely because of "Desperate Housewives" (14.7 million).

The New York Times - Arts

Last week, Matthews finished a close runner-up for N.F.L. defensive player of the year to Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

In the Elevators domain, ReachMRFS-V2 + TVI is the overall best planner with ReachMRFS-V2 + VI being a closer runner-up.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

Our Marxist section though is a close runner up; it's always fun to tell a customer that, no, Gramsci is not in our Political Philosophy section, he's over here in these bays devoted just to Marxist thought.

The Guardian - Books

While we are still diehard fans of the classic original, we admit this is a close runner up.

Huffington Post

That's high on the list, but the sheer misogyny of Tangled's "Mother Knows Best," capping off as it did decades of Disney's wretched and poisonous stereotypes about mothers, older women and undermining of even an iota of intergenerational sorority, is a close runner up.

Huffington Post

And a very close runner-up was the lively, funny post by 13-year-old Danielle from New York City about her and her father's "Arrested Development" ritual and what it made her realize about our connected world.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a close runner-up", ensure the context clearly establishes a competition or ranking. For example, "In the election, candidate Smith was a close runner-up, losing by only a few hundred votes."

Common error

Avoid using "a close runner-up" if the margin between the winner and the second-place finisher was substantial. Use it only when the difference is genuinely small or significant in context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a close runner-up" functions as a descriptive noun phrase. It typically modifies another noun or pronoun, providing information about its position in a competition or ranking, emphasizing the small difference between the winner and the second-place finisher. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a close runner-up" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe someone or something that nearly won or came in second place by a small margin. Ludwig's analysis of numerous examples from authoritative sources, such as The New York Times and The Guardian, indicates its widespread use in news, business, and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly establishes a competition or ranking and that the margin between the winner and second place is genuinely small. Alternative phrases like "nearly victorious" or "almost the winner" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a strong second

Highlights the strength of the performance while still acknowledging the second position, dropping 'runner-up'.

a near second

Shortens the phrase while maintaining the core meaning, dropping 'runner-up'.

in second place by a small margin

Specifies the placement and the closeness of the result in a more detailed manner.

almost the winner

Highlights the proximity to winning, changing the structure to emphasize the winner.

just behind the leader

Describes the position relative to the leader, adding a spatial element.

nearly victorious

Emphasizes the near win, differing in focusing on the victory aspect.

a whisker away from winning

Uses figurative language to emphasize the small margin of defeat.

second best

Simplifies the phrase to indicate the second position, omitting the closeness.

next in line

Indicates the following position, abstracting away from competition or direct comparison.

a narrow miss

Focuses on the act of nearly achieving something, shifting the perspective from the result.

FAQs

How can I use "a close runner-up" in a sentence?

You can use "a close runner-up" to describe someone or something that almost won or came in second place by a small margin. For example, "The movie was a critical success but was "a close runner-up" at the box office compared to the superhero film."

What's the difference between "a close runner-up" and "second place"?

"Second place" simply indicates the position, while "a close runner-up" implies that the second-place finisher was very near to winning. It emphasizes the narrow margin between first and second place.

What are some alternatives to saying "a close runner-up"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "nearly victorious", "almost the winner", or "a near second".

Is it appropriate to use "a close runner-up" in formal writing?

Yes, "a close runner-up" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when describing results in business, academic, or news contexts. It conveys a specific meaning about the narrowness of the margin.