achieved the second highest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "achieved the second highest" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing rankings, scores, or achievements in a competitive context. Example: "She achieved the second highest score in the mathematics competition, just behind the first place winner."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Between times, against Sri Lanka, they achieved the second highest first-innings score of the tournament, might have expected rather more had it not been for a loss of momentum towards the end as the wickets of the power hitters fell in a cluster and were beaten by a Sri Lankan chase brilliantly underpinned by the virtuosity of Kumar Sangakkara.

The Guardian - Sport

When the runs were optimized to favor recall, the ensemble approach achieved the second highest recall on unseen entities.

Journal of Cheminformatics

David Zdrilic, the scorer of eight goals in the match, achieved the second highest number of goals in an international match since World War I.

Wikipedia

Fourth, ASSESS achieved the second highest accuracy rank in both validations.

BMC Genomics

According to OECD Health Statistics 2013, Japan has achieved the second highest life expectancy in the world, with an average ratio of national health expenditure against GDP [ 1].

BMC Family Practice

The good quality of the Costa Rican statistical system goes along with an outstanding and universal healthcare system that has achieved the second highest national life expectancy in the continent (Canada has the highest), higher even than the United States (World Bank, 2006).

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The gargantuan haul for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2, which sees Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson star as Bella Cullen (née Swan) and her bloodsucking love Edward for the final time, also achieved the eighth highest opening in box office history.

The Guardian - Film

The England international achieved the third highest save success rate of the regular keepers in the league last season (73.9%) – with Petr Cech leading the way – but that number has dropped substantially to just 54.8% this time around.

The Guardian - Sport

The initial airing was viewed by 13.74 million people, garnered a 5.2/13 Nielsen rating/share in the 18 49 demographic, and achieved the fourth highest viewership on the night.

Wikipedia

The proposed method achieved the third highest F-measure among the seven participants in the shared task.

Database : the journal of biological databases and curation

The item "Presence of a spiritual assistant upon request" was suggested by an expert in the first round and then achieved the third highest rating in the second round (median 7.5, range 1-10).

BMC Palliative Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "achieved the second highest", ensure the context clearly indicates the criteria for the ranking or achievement. For instance, specify "achieved the second highest score in the competition".

Common error

Avoid using "achieved the second highest" when there are only two possible outcomes. In such cases, "achieved the highest" or "did not achieve the highest" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "achieved the second highest" functions as a descriptive phrase, typically modifying a noun to indicate a specific ranking or level of attainment. As Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "achieved the second highest" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for indicating a specific ranking or level of attainment. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is best used when the context clearly defines the criteria for the achievement. While alternatives such as "ranked second" or "finished in second place" exist, "achieved the second highest" offers a more formal and explicit description. Its usage is most common in scientific and news contexts. Remember to avoid using this phrase when only two possible outcomes exist; instead, opt for "achieved the highest" or "did not achieve the highest" for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ranked second

Concise way of stating the achievement of being in the second position.

finished in second place

Simplifies the phrase to indicate the final standing in a competition.

attained the second best

Replaces "achieved" with "attained" and "highest" with "best", emphasizing accomplishment.

secured the second highest position

Substitutes "achieved" with "secured" and adds "position" to highlight ranking.

claimed the second highest honor

Emphasizes the prestige of the achievement by using "honor".

earned the second highest distinction

Highlights the merit behind the achievement with "earned" and "distinction".

reached the runner-up spot

Uses sports-related terminology to denote second place.

garnered the second greatest score

Uses "garnered" and "greatest" to amplify the achievement.

obtained the second most elevated rank

Replaces "achieved" with "obtained" and uses more formal language.

occupied the second rung

Uses metaphorical language to represent the ranking.

FAQs

What does it mean to say someone "achieved the second highest"?

It means that, in a ranking or competition, they attained the position immediately below the top performer. This signifies a strong, but not leading, result.

How can I rephrase "achieved the second highest" in a sentence?

You can use alternatives like "finished in second place", "ranked second", or "attained the second best" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "achieved the second highest"?

No, it's not necessarily redundant. It provides specific information about the ranking. While "runner-up" or "second place" might sometimes suffice, "achieved the second highest" is more explicit about the criteria being measured.

Which is more formal, "achieved the second highest" or "came in second"?

"Achieved the second highest" is generally more formal and suitable for academic or professional contexts. "Came in second" is more informal and appropriate for casual conversations.