at play this

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at play this" is not correct in English and does not convey a clear meaning.
It seems to be an incorrect arrangement of words and lacks proper context for usage. Example: "The factors at play this season are quite different from last year."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"I would be prepared to hear a sound argument that something else was at play; this was not a sound argument," Ms. Garry said in an interview.

The New York Times

The report depicts the Taliban as spearheading a fractured insurgency, but one in which conservative Pashtun nationalism and respect for Afghan culture are both at play, this official said.

The New York Times

There are new variables at play this time, like an expanded pool of launch countries that includes Hong Kong, always a popular destination for grey market resellers.

TechCrunch

For months we have been bombarded with increasingly amusing analysis regarding the identity politics at play this presidential election.

Huffington Post

But, there was a lot at play this evening and I was about nervous as someone wearing a toupee during a tornado.

Vice

The Guardian Dan Martin said: "With so many wild ideas at play, this would have been so easy to get wrong...yet in every sense it was pitched perfectly".

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

It seems that Obokata was adept at playing this game.

The Guardian

Early last week, Dorsey was the 49ers' third-string quarterback with almost no shot at playing this season.

The New York Times

"Retailers have become much better at playing this game," Sherif Mityas, a partner in the retail practice of the consulting firm A. T. Kearney, said in an e-mail.

The New York Times

I failed real hard at playing this thing, believe me, despite the promise of a BMW M3 if I played well enough.

TechCrunch

Israelis have become world-class experts at playing this game.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "at play this". Instead, use "at play here" or rephrase to clarify the context, such as "the factors at play in this situation".

Common error

A common mistake is to directly append "this" after "at play" without considering the grammatical structure. This often results in awkward phrasing. Instead, ensure the sentence clearly indicates what "this" refers to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at play this" functions as an attempt to describe influential factors within a specific context. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically incorrect and lacks clarity. The examples show varied attempts to use the phrase, often as part of a longer, more complex sentence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

31%

Wiki

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at play this" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrasing lacks clarity and is not standard English. While examples can be found across various sources, including News & Media and Science, it's advisable to use alternative, more grammatically correct phrases such as "at play here" or to rephrase the sentence for better clarity. Focus on specifying what "this" refers to or consider using alternatives like "involved in this" or "influencing this" for improved communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at play in this

Adds "in" to clarify the scope of influence to the situation.

at play here

Replaces "this" with "here", indicating the factors are relevant to the current context.

in play this

Uses "in play" instead of "at play", changing the emphasis slightly while retaining the core meaning.

forces at play this

Emphasizes "forces" to highlight the powerful elements influencing the situation.

at work this

Substitutes "play" with "work", highlighting the active operation of the factors involved.

factors at play this

Explicitly mentions "factors", emphasizing the elements that are influencing the situation.

dynamics at play this

Highlights "dynamics" to focus on the interactive forces affecting the situation.

influences at play this

Uses "influences" to specifically refer to the impacting forces.

mechanisms at play this

Highlights "mechanisms" to focus on the processes affecting the situation.

considerations at play this

Uses "considerations" to emphasize the factors to be taken into account.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the phrase "at play"?

The phrase "at play" generally needs a prepositional phrase to specify where the factors are at play. For example, "The factors at play in this decision are numerous" is correct. Using "at play this" is grammatically incorrect.

What are some alternatives to "at play in this situation"?

You can use phrases like "involved in this situation", "influencing this situation", or "affecting this situation".

Is it ever correct to say "at play this"?

In most contexts, "at play this" is not grammatically correct. It's typically a misapplication or shortening of a longer, more correct phrase such as "at play in this case" or "at play this season" (where "this season" acts as an adverbial modifier).

What's the difference between "at play here" and "at play this"?

"At play here" is grammatically sound and refers to factors currently active or influential in the present context. "At play this" is generally incorrect and should be avoided in favor of clearer phrasing.