call it best

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "call it best" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used when suggesting a preferred or optimal choice, but it is not commonly recognized. Example: "If you want to simplify the process, you might call it best to start with the basics."

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"They should just call it best breaking ball," Hampton said.

The New York Times - Sports

They agreed to fight a third day, and call it best two out of three.

The New Yorker

There's the traditional desktop Windows, best for mouse and keyboard, and the new TileWorld (as I call it), best for touch screens.

The New York Times

Make a date every year, and call it "Best Friends Day".

WikiHow

The idea of our first algorithm is to minimize online processing by simply selecting a seed set for one of the constituent topics in the topic mixture that has the best influence performance, and thus we call it Best Topic Selection (BTS) algorithm.

Computational Social Networks

Call it Best Instance of Professional Adequacy in Extremely Unsatisfactory Circumstances, and make Auburtin its inaugural winner.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"I mean, Big called it best," Woolard said.

The New Yorker

Josh Timmermann of Stylus Magazine called it "best single so far this year", and David Welsh of musicOMH.com wrote that the song had a "virally-infectious chorus and (relatively) clever wordplay".

Wikipedia

Hay (as the locals call it) is best known for its books.

The Guardian

"Why do I call it the best?

The Guardian

Some call it "the best bad movie ever made".

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For greater clarity, consider replacing "call it best" with more conventional phrases like "consider it the best option" or "deem it the best choice".

Common error

While "call it best" is understandable, it's not a standard phrase and might sound awkward or too informal in formal writing. To maintain a professional tone, opt for more conventional alternatives like "consider it optimal" or "deem it superior".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "call it best" functions as a directive suggesting a recommended course of action or judgment. It's used to simplify choices and highlight the most suitable option. Ludwig provides examples where this phrase appears in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "call it best" is an uncommon but understandable way to suggest a preferred option. While grammatically acceptable, it's not a standard phrase and might sound less formal. According to Ludwig, it's most frequently found in news and media sources. For formal writing, consider alternatives like "consider it optimal" or "deem it superior" for better clarity and professionalism. Although Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is not standard, it provides real-world examples of how the phrase is currently being used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

name it top choice

Replaces "best" with "top choice", making the phrase more explicit about selection.

consider it optimal

Replaces "call" with "consider" and "best" with "optimal", offering a more formal tone.

view it as number one

Replaces "call" with "view" and "best" with "number one", offering a straightforward assessment.

deem it superior

Uses "deem" instead of "call" and "superior" instead of "best", adding a stronger sense of judgment.

label it as finest

Uses "label" in place of "call" and "finest" instead of "best", which emphasizes a definitive judgment.

designate it as first-rate

Substitutes "call" with "designate" and "best" with "first-rate", adding a sense of official endorsement.

regard it as prime

Substitutes "call" with "regard" and "best" with "prime", providing a slightly more sophisticated expression.

adjudge it excellent

Replaces "call" with "adjudge" and "best" with "excellent", which is suited for more formal contexts.

refer to it as premier

Employs "refer to it as" and "premier", increasing the formality and emphasizing exclusivity.

recognize it as preeminent

Uses "recognize" and "preeminent", making the phrase more formal and academic.

FAQs

What does "call it best" mean?

The phrase "call it best" suggests designating something as the preferred or optimal option. It's often used when recommending a particular choice or simplifying a selection process.

How can I use "call it best" in a sentence?

You can use "call it best" when suggesting a specific course of action or judgment. For example, "If you want to simplify the process, you might "consider it best" to start with the basics."

What are some alternatives to "call it best"?

Alternatives include phrases like "consider it optimal", "deem it superior", or "regard it as prime", depending on the context and desired formality.

Is "call it best" grammatically correct?

While not incorrect, "call it best" isn't a standard phrase. It's more common to say "consider it the best option" or use similar constructions that are more widely recognized and grammatically explicit.