become a play

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "become a play" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express the idea of something transforming into a theatrical performance, but it lacks clarity and context. Example: "The story was so captivating that it could easily become a play."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

DEREK WALCOTT'S "Pantomime," now at the Hudson Guild, is a vaudeville show struggling to become a play.

The New York Times

"Whether it's for airlines or automobiles or industry after industry, the market as a whole has become a play on energy, on oil".

The New York Times

The book, which went on to become a play, a musical and a short-lived television series, chronicled their life together in a tiny apartment in the big city.

The New York Times

The arc is always the same: from rumor, to Swedes, to pictures in ski magazines, to appearances in ski movies, until finally your secret slopes become a play land crowded with powder seekers.

The New York Times

Earlier avatars of the sibling roommate phenomenon include the McKenney sisters, whose move to Manhattan in the 1930s formed the basis of Ruth McKenney's memoir "My Sister Eileen". The book, which went on to become a play, a musical and a short-lived television series, chronicled their life together in a tiny apartment in the big city.

The New York Times

When combined with the rich mozzarella, the strips of eggplant become a play on the typical parmigiana dish.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

When they can run the ball and then they become a play-action team, you have a long day.

The New York Times - Sports

Defeat would have left Spain six points off the top of the group as they head to Macedonia in midweek, followed by Luxembourg at home in October and then the game that might well effectively become a play-off for a place at the European Championships in their final game: away in Ukraine.

The Guardian - Sport

It was Albert Einstein – another Institute member – who said that "[i]magination is more important than knowledge". If we become a play-it-safe society in which our young people envision careers dedicated to minimizing risk and maximizing security, then we are likely to become a nation of hedge-fund managers, Wall Street financiers, corporate lawyers, and accountants.

HuffPost

I'd also expect The Times to include the extra $200,000 to become a playing member at Bighorn.

Los Angeles Times

There are three key ingredients for a game or pastime to become a sport: playing, competing and viewing.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a transformation into a play, use more explicit verbs such as "adapt", "turn", or "dramatize" for clarity. For example, "The novel was adapted into a play."

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "become a play" if a more precise verb can clearly convey the intended meaning. Instead, opt for phrasing like "was adapted into a play" or "was transformed into a theatrical performance."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "become a play" functions as a verb phrase aiming to describe a transformation or evolution into a theatrical performance. However, it's often more effective to use more explicit verbs such as 'adapt' or 'turn' for greater clarity, as suggested by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "become a play" is an uncommon and grammatically questionable construction used to describe the transformation of something into a theatrical performance. As Ludwig AI reports, the phrase is not grammatically correct and lacks clarity. While examples can be found predominantly in news and media sources, it is advisable to use more explicit and precise verbs such as "adapt", "turn", or "dramatize" to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "be adapted into a play" or "be turned into a stage production" offer better clarity and are more grammatically sound.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be adapted for the stage

Similar to 'be adapted into a play' but more specific about the destination medium.

be adapted into a play

Focuses on the process of adaptation for the stage.

be transformed into a play

Focuses on the complete change into a play format.

be made into a play

Simple and direct way to express the conversion into a play.

be turned into a stage production

Emphasizes the transformation into a performance.

transition into a play

Implies a smooth shift into becoming a play.

be dramatized

Highlights the act of making something into a drama.

evolve into a theatrical piece

Suggests a gradual development into a play.

take the form of a play

Focuses on the resultant form being a play.

find its way to the stage

Indicates the eventual performance as a play.

FAQs

What is a more grammatically sound alternative to "become a play"?

Instead of "become a play", consider using phrases like "adapted into a play", "turned into a play", or "dramatized for the stage" for better clarity.

How can I use "become a play" in a sentence correctly?

While "become a play" is not ideal, you can rephrase the sentence to use more precise verbs. For instance, instead of "The book become a play", try "The book "was adapted into a play"".

Which is more correct: "become a play" or "become a film"?

Both phrases are somewhat ambiguous. It is better to rephrase using clearer language like "adapted into a film" or "turned into a film" instead of "become a film".

What's the difference between "become a play" and "inspire a play"?

"Become a play" (though grammatically awkward) implies a direct transformation. "Inspire a play" suggests that something served as the creative basis, leading to the creation of the play. For example, "Her life "inspired a play"".