a nice contest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a nice contest" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a competition that is enjoyable or well-organized. Example: "The community held a nice contest to encourage local artists to showcase their work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

That's developing into a nice contest, because Martin and Prior will both continue to attack.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

All three switch occasionally to flutes and ethnic instruments, which makes a nice contrast, but the real attraction lies in the heavyweight saxophone contest.

The Guardian - Music

Tom Allen The Stand, Edinburgh, Thu, Fri Effete storyteller Allen (a BBC Radio regular and former winner of the So You Think You're Funny? contest) has a nice line in waspish, well-characterised comedy.

The Guardian

Slam Dunk Déjà Vu The league put a nice twist on the dunk contest by requiring the participants to do a solo dunk of their choice, a dunk with a teammate and then one in which they spun a wheel to see if they had to emulate a slam by Michael Jordan, Julius Erving, Dominique Wilkins or a classic from the 1980's or 1990's.

The New York Times - Sports

Live music, games, public contest and a nice array of adult beverages!" Another competitor in this year's event, Chef Rick Mysee turned to cooking out of necessity.

Huffington Post

I've found that, down here, even lifelong Republicans are polite to me: 'I won't be voting for Jon, but have a nice day.' " Once the Georgia contest wraps up, Shanahan may return to New York to help with upcoming City Council and mayoral elections.

The New Yorker

It's not, you know -- 'Rock of Ages' is a nice hymn and I'm not contesting it, but my faith is not a rock upon which I stand and, you know, fight against the arrows of outrageous fortune, et cetera.

Huffington Post

The visitors breathed some life into the contest when Dane Nielsen crossed out wide after a nice sweep play two minutes before halftime for a score of 20-4.

The Guardian - Sport

Take a nice long blink and close your eyes tightly right before the contest begins.

WikiHow

And this year has provided a nice break from the endless talk about ethanol that usually weighs down the Iowa contest.

The New York Times

Now that we had a nice following, it was time to really ramp up our base - and so we launched a contest.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a nice contest" to describe a competition that is not only well-organized but also conducted in a friendly and enjoyable atmosphere. This emphasizes the positive experience for participants and spectators.

Common error

Avoid using "nice" too frequently as a generic adjective. While "a nice contest" is acceptable, strive for more descriptive and specific language, such as "an enjoyable competition" or "a well-organized event", to enhance the clarity and impact of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a nice contest" functions as a noun phrase, where "nice" is an adjective modifying the noun "contest". According to Ludwig AI, it is used to describe a competition in positive terms. The phrase typically serves to depict the competition as enjoyable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Wiki

32%

Science

27%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a nice contest" is a grammatically sound phrase used to positively describe a competition, suggesting that it is enjoyable or well-organized. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While the phrase is not particularly common, it appears across various contexts, particularly in news and media. For writers seeking greater precision, alternatives like "an enjoyable competition" or "a pleasant competition" can provide more nuanced descriptions. Remember to use "nice" judiciously to avoid diluting its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an enjoyable competition

Replaces "nice" with "enjoyable", emphasizing the pleasant experience.

a pleasant competition

Substitutes "nice" with "pleasant", highlighting the agreeable nature of the contest.

a friendly contest

Focuses on the amicable atmosphere of the competition.

a well-organized competition

Highlights the structure and planning of the contest, implying a positive experience.

a fair competition

Emphasizes impartiality and justice within the contest.

a good-natured competition

Stresses the positive and amiable spirit of the contest.

a delightful match

Shifts the focus to a "match" instead of a "contest", conveying a sense of enjoyment.

an agreeable rivalry

Replaces "contest" with "rivalry", while "agreeable" suggests a positive interaction.

an amiable game

Uses "game" to mean "contest" and "amiable" to suggest friendliness.

a civilized dispute

Replaces "contest" with "dispute" and uses "civilized" to denote a respectful interaction.

FAQs

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

You can use "a nice contest" to describe a competition that is enjoyable and well-organized. For example, "The community held "a nice contest" to encourage local artists to showcase their work."

What can I say instead of "a nice contest"?

You can use alternatives like "an enjoyable competition", "a pleasant competition", or "a friendly contest" depending on the context.

Is it always appropriate to describe a competition as "a nice contest"?

While grammatically correct, "a nice contest" might sound somewhat bland. Consider the specific context and choose adjectives that better reflect the competition's nature, such as "intense", "friendly", or "well-organized". Choose "an intense competition" when is necessary.

What's the difference between "a nice contest" and "a fair contest"?

"A nice contest" suggests an enjoyable or pleasant experience, while "a fair contest" emphasizes impartiality and equal opportunity for all participants. The choice depends on whether you want to highlight the atmosphere or the integrity of the competition.