a lottery

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "a lottery" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to a game of chance where participants buy tickets for a chance to win prizes. For example, "Winning a lottery can change someone's life overnight." Alternative expressions include "a raffle" and "a sweepstakes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It can't become a lottery.

The New York Times - Sports

Hence, I prefer a lottery.

The New York Times - Magazine

Buy a lottery ticket instead.

The New York Times

"The penalties are a lottery.

The New York Times

Life's a lottery; death's a lottery.

The Guardian - Opinion

Buying bacon's a lottery.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Like entering a lottery?

The New York Times

It may largely be a lottery.

The New Yorker

(Spots are distributed by a lottery).

The New York Times

It's like a lottery ticket.

Yale University

"Penalties are always a lottery," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In scientific contexts, use the term when referring to random sampling methods or randomized allocation in trials.

Common error

Avoid using "a lottery" when referring to a predictable or merit-based process. If a result is earned through effort, calling it "a lottery" incorrectly implies that the outcome was purely accidental.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lottery" functions primarily as a noun phrase. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it often serves as a predicate nominative after the verb "to be", such as in "Life's a lottery". It can also act as the object of a preposition, particularly in scientific contexts where methods are described as occurring "through a lottery".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The analysis of the phrase "a lottery" reveals a highly versatile and correct noun phrase used across a spectrum of professional and academic writing. According to data provided by Ludwig, the term is most frequently employed in News & Media (55%) to describe unpredictability in sports, politics and life. It also maintains a strong presence in Scientific literature (20%), where it refers to objective randomization methods. The consensus among authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Economist is that "a lottery" is the standard expression for systems governed by chance. While it literally refers to gambling, its metaphorical power to critique unfair or inconsistent processes makes it a valuable tool for writers seeking to highlight arbitrary outcomes in complex systems.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a game of chance

More technical term often used in legal or gambling contexts

a raffle

Specific to events where prizes are won by ticket holders in a smaller-scale setting

a sweepstakes

Refers to a type of contest where prizes are awarded to winners chosen by chance

a crapshoot

Slang term emphasizing a high degree of unpredictability and risk

a gamble

Focuses on the risk or the act of betting rather than the system itself

a random draw

Describes the specific mechanism of selection without the gambling connotation

a ballot

Used when the random selection is for opportunities like school places or housing

a toss-up

Indicates a situation where two outcomes are equally likely

a lucky dip

Common in British English for a random choice from a range of items

a drawing

The act of choosing names or numbers at random for a prize

FAQs

How do I use "a lottery" in a sentence?

You can use it literally to describe a gambling game, or figuratively to describe uncertainty. For example, "Winning "a lottery" can change your life" or "The justice system in that country is "a lottery"".

What is the difference between "a lottery" and "a raffle"?

While both involve chance, "a lottery" typically refers to large-scale, state-run gambling, whereas "a raffle" usually involves a smaller pool of people buying tickets for a specific set of prizes at an event.

Can "a lottery" be used as a metaphor?

Yes, it is very common in journalism and literature to describe unpredictable situations. You might say "Success is often "a lottery"" to suggest that luck plays a major role.

What can I say instead of "a lottery" for random selection?

In formal or administrative contexts, you might use terms like "a random draw", "a ballot" or "randomized selection".