a point shy of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a point shy of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is just below a certain level or amount, often in a numerical context. Example: "The team finished the season a point shy of qualifying for the playoffs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Usage

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Iginla is a point shy of 800 for his career.

The New York Times

But the companies' sales fell around a point shy of forecasts.

The Economist

He finished a point shy of Glen Rice's franchise record, set on April 15 , 1995

The New York Times - Sports

He was less than a point shy of winning the 2008 tournament at Leeds, and he has jousted in Belgium, France, New Zealand and the Netherlands.

The New York Times - Magazine

Charles hit 14 of her 16 shots in her final regular-season home game and was a point shy of her career high.

The New York Times - Sports

With a Mohs hardness score just a point shy of diamond's, corundum becomes a red ruby through the timely addition of chromium atoms.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

In the end, Mr. Gavrilov whittled his score from 19 to 14 — just one point shy of the A he had sought.

The New York Times

This ratio also arrives just one percentage point shy of an annual peak, pointing toward an extreme in bearish sentiment.

Forbes

Ms. Sachdeva, 19, graduated from Delhi Public School in 2010, with a 94.5 percent exam score, one point shy of the cutoff to study economics at St. Stephen's, one of the top colleges at Delhi University.

The New York Times

The stock's SOIR of 1.20 arrives just one percentage point shy of an annual peak, as puts easily outnumber calls among near-term options.

Forbes

This ratio also rests just one percentage point shy of an annual bullish peak, shedding light on the fact that options traders have rarely been more call-hungry during this time frame.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a point shy of", ensure the context clearly establishes what the 'point' refers to, such as a score, level, or target. This avoids ambiguity and ensures the reader understands the intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "a point shy of" when the 'point' is not clearly defined or understood in the context. For instance, saying "the project was a point shy of completion" is vague; specify what measure defines completion, like "a point shy of the budget target" or "a point shy of the deadline".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a point shy of" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a state of being narrowly short of a specified value or target. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically correct construction commonly used to express near misses. This is evident in examples detailing sports scores, financial targets, and other numerical contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Sports

33%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Academia

7%

Science

7%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a point shy of" is a grammatically correct and commonly used prepositional phrase that succinctly conveys that something is narrowly missing a particular target or value. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it appears frequently in news, sports, and general contexts. When using the phrase, ensure that the 'point' being referenced is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "one point short of" or "just under" can be used for variety, but "a point shy of" remains a clear and effective choice for expressing a near miss.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one point short of

Replaces "shy of" with "short of", maintaining the same meaning with a slight variation in wording.

just under

Uses a more general term to indicate being slightly less than a certain value.

a hair's breadth from

Employs a figurative expression to emphasize the narrow margin.

within a whisker of

Similar to "a hair's breadth", this idiom highlights how close something was to being achieved.

almost reaching

Focuses on the act of nearly attaining a goal or value.

narrowly missing

Emphasizes the act of failing to reach a goal by a small margin.

a small margin below

Uses more formal language to describe the slight difference.

just a notch below

Employs a casual expression to suggest being slightly inferior or lower.

fractionally below

Indicates a minor difference, often used in technical or statistical contexts.

scarcely attaining

Focuses on the difficulty in achieving the target and the closeness of the attempt.

FAQs

How can I use "a point shy of" in a sentence?

You can use "a point shy of" to indicate that something is just below a certain level or amount. For example, "The team finished the season "a point shy of" qualifying for the playoffs".

What are some alternatives to saying "a point shy of"?

Alternatives include "one point short of", "just under", or "almost reaching", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "a point shy from" instead of "a point shy of"?

While understandable, "a point shy of" is the more standard and grammatically accepted phrase. Using "a point shy from" may sound awkward to some native English speakers.

What does "a point shy of" typically refer to?

"A point shy of" typically refers to being close to achieving a numerical goal or target, such as a score in a game, a financial target, or a statistical benchmark. It implies that the subject narrowly missed reaching that specific point.