a recent match

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a recent match" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a game or competition that has taken place not long ago. Example: "The team celebrated their victory in a recent match against their rivals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

In a recent Match survey, the online dating site recently looked at their membership base and searched for keywords for single fathers aged 30-50 in 3 popular niche categories.

HuffPost

A recent match however, has gripped Indonesia.

The Economist

During a recent match he tried, unsuccessfully, to pry loose the concrete bleachers.

The New York Times

Then he held up a computer printout from a recent match.

The New York Times - Sports

At a recent match between two local teams, half the stadium was empty.

The New York Times - Sports

In a recent match against the Netherlands, nine members of the French team came from non-French clubs.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

Despite her poll numbers -- 35percentt in a recent match-up with Representative Bobby Jindal, a Republican -- Ms. Blanco has given no indication that she will not run for re-election.

The New York Times

The Post cited polls showing that not only would Democrats vastly prefer Mr. Clinton to Al Gore as a candidate this year but that in a recent match-up the president pulled even with George W. Bush nationwide.

The New York Times

We're always playing catch-up, so scare them by saying, 'You can do whatever you want today, but just know that, down the road, we'll come back for you.'" Tennis has also suffered a recent match-fixing scandal: in March, Italian prosecutor Roberto Di Martino said that more than two dozen top players should be investigated for links to betting rings.

The Guardian - Sport

The difference with humans may be seen quite clearly in a recent matched pair of experiments with chimpanzees and human children.

European Journal of Social Psychology

Preoperative HDRBT (26 Gy over 4 days) followed by surgery after 4 8 weeks compares favourably in terms of complications and outcomes with SCPRT in a recent matched retrospective analysis from Canada and Sweden [83].

European Journal of Cancer, Supplement

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a recent match" to provide context for events or statistics that are relevant to the current discussion. This helps connect past occurrences to the present narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "a recent match" repeatedly in close succession without varying the phrasing or providing additional details. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive and lack nuance. Consider using synonyms or adding specifics about the match.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a recent match" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. The adjective "recent" describes the noun "match", indicating that the match occurred in the near past. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage and grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Sports

12%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a recent match" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to refer to a game or competition that took place in the near past. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that it's mainly utilized in news and media contexts, particularly in sports reporting, to provide temporal context for ongoing discussions. While the phrase is generally neutral, remember to provide sufficient context, like the sport involved, to avoid ambiguity. Avoid overuse by diversifying with synonyms like "a recently played game" or "a past contest". These insights help ensure your writing remains clear, concise, and engaging.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A recently played game

Uses a different phrasing to emphasize the action of playing the game in the near past.

A prior game

Emphasizes that the game happened before the current moment, but is less specific about the timeframe.

A past contest

Replaces "match" with "contest", offering a slightly more formal or general alternative.

A foregoing match

Uses a more formal term, 'foregoing', to describe the match that preceded the present.

A just-concluded game

Highlights the completion of the game, implying it finished very recently.

The latest competition

Focuses on the competition being the most up-to-date or current one.

The previous tournament

Specifies that the 'match' was part of a tournament.

A tightly contested game

Highlights the competitiveness of the match.

A close match

Highlights the fact that the game was decided by only a small amount.

A preliminary match

Highlights the fact that the game was one of several leading up to a final.

FAQs

How can I use "a recent match" in a sentence?

You can use "a recent match" to refer to a game or competition that happened not long ago. For example, "The team's performance in "a recent match" was outstanding."

What's a good alternative to "a recent match"?

Alternatives include "a recently played game", "a past contest", or "the latest competition". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it necessary to specify the sport when using "a recent match"?

It depends on the context. If it's clear what sport you're referring to, you don't need to specify. However, if there's any ambiguity, it's best to be specific, such as "a recent football match" or "a recent tennis match".

How does "a recent match" differ from "the last match"?

"A recent match" refers to any match that occurred in the near past, while "the last match" refers specifically to the most immediate or most recently concluded match. "The last match" implies a definitive sequence, whereas "a recent match" implies only recency.