a place behind

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a place behind" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a location that is situated at the back of something or in a less prominent position. Example: "She found a quiet spot in a place behind the main stage where she could relax and enjoy the music."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Contexts

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

Two-time world junior champion Garner ended the race as best-placed Briton, with Barnes a place behind.

BBC

USA's Jennifer Simpson also made the final, finishing a place behind Muir.

The Guardian - Sport

Its candidate, retired GP Jon Rogers, trailed in fourth, a place behind Conservative Geoff Gollop.

The Guardian

Which could mean that fashion will soon take a place behind burgeoning arts in other mediums.

The New York Times - Magazine

West Brom rose to fourth, just a point and a place behind Chelsea, by beating the European champions, 2-1.

The New York Times - Sports

A University of Florida student who arrived at 5 30 took a place behind about 25 others.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

During our roundtable discussion, there was an empty place behind a name card.

Huffington Post

They have a certain place behind the men or a separate room.

The New York Times

A wholly different style can be sampled at Bakfickan (hip pocket), a tiny place behind the opera house.

Forbes

The house didn't have separate areas, and there were no walls, only a hiding place behind the stove.

The New Yorker

A second place behind Breaux Greer at the World Athletics Final in Monte Carlo rounded off the season.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing rankings or order, use "a place behind" to clearly indicate the relative position of one item to another.

Common error

Avoid using "a place behind" when describing physical locations if the meaning is simply at the rear; ensure it conveys a sense of sequential order or ranking.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a place behind" functions as a prepositional phrase that typically modifies a verb or noun, indicating a relative position in a sequence or ranking. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sports

25%

General Contexts

15%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a place behind" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to indicate a relative position in a sequence or ranking. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage. It's most frequently found in news and media, particularly in sports contexts, where it describes the positions of competitors. While generally neutral in tone, care should be taken to ensure it correctly conveys sequential order rather than simply a location at the rear. Alternatives include phrases such as "one position back" or "immediately trailing". Use this phrase to clearly denote relative positions within ordered contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one position back

Replaces "place" with "position" and uses "back" to convey the same meaning of being behind in a sequence.

one step behind

Uses a metaphorical "step" to indicate a slightly less literal position.

one rank lower

Uses "rank" instead of "place" and "lower" instead of "behind" to indicate a position in a hierarchy.

immediately after

Focuses on the sequence, indicating the subject comes right after another.

immediately trailing

Focuses on the action of following closely, emphasizing the nearness in position.

next in line

Indicates the subject's position in a queue or sequence of events.

following directly after

Emphasizes the direct sequence, implying a close following in order.

in second position

Specifies the exact position relative to the leader, assuming the subject is in the first trailing position.

in the subsequent slot

Uses more formal language to describe the next position in a series.

in the wake of

Implies the subject is following closely and perhaps influenced by the one ahead.

FAQs

How can I use "a place behind" in a sentence?

You can use "a place behind" to describe positions in a competition, rankings, or any ordered sequence. For example, "The runner finished "a place behind" the leader".

What can I say instead of "a place behind"?

You can use alternatives like "one position back", "immediately trailing", or "one rank lower" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a place behind" or "one place behind"?

Both "a place behind" and "one place behind" are grammatically correct and often interchangeable. The choice depends on the desired level of specificity.

What's the difference between "a place behind" and "following closely"?

"A place behind" specifically indicates a position in a sequence or ranking, while "following closely" describes proximity and pursuit, not necessarily a specific order. You can replace it with phrases like immediately trailing.