came in third

USAGE SUMMARY

"came in third" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is generally used when talking about someone or something that finished in a competition or race in third place or position. For example, "The race horse Arlo came in third in the Derby."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"And I came in third," she said.

The New York Times

Horizon came in third.

The New York Times - Food

We came in third place".

The New York Times - Magazine

"I came in third, Amy.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

General Tembo came in third.

The New York Times

Tony Stewart came in third place.

The New York Times - Sports

NBC came in third over all.

The New York Times

"Values" came in third at 89.

The New York Times

The United States came in third.

The New York Times

Oh yes, and Autosport came in third.

The New York Times

We came in third last year.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "came in third", ensure the context clearly indicates a competition or ranking scenario. For general situations, consider alternatives like "was third".

Common error

Avoid using "came in third" when simply describing something as the third item in a sequence, where no competition or ranking is involved. Use ordinal numbers instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "came in third" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the attainment of third position in a competition or ranking. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "came in third" is a grammatically correct and very common way to express the attainment of third place in a competition. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used and accepted in English. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to report results and outcomes. When writing, ensure the context involves a clear ranking or competition to avoid misuse. Consider using alternatives like "finished third" or "took third place" for variety. With these insights, you can confidently and accurately incorporate "came in third" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

finished third

Replaces "came in" with "finished", maintaining the meaning of achieving the third position.

took third place

Emphasizes the action of obtaining third place.

placed third

A shorter and more direct way of saying "came in third".

secured third position

Highlights the act of ensuring the third position was achieved.

ranked third

Focuses on the ranking aspect of achieving the third position.

achieved third

Highlights the accomplishment of reaching the third position.

ended up in third place

Indicates a result, where the outcome was the third position.

was the third finisher

Specifies the third one to complete something, like a race.

garnered third

Implies effort and success in obtaining the third position.

attained third rank

Focuses on the attainment of the third rank or level.

FAQs

How do I use "came in third" in a sentence?

Use "came in third" to describe someone or something that finished in third place in a competition or ranking, for example: "Our team "came in third" in the national championship".

What can I say instead of "came in third"?

Alternatives to "came in third" include "finished third", "took third place", or "placed third" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "came at third" instead of "came in third"?

No, the correct phrase is "came in third". The preposition "in" is required to indicate the position within the ranking or competition. "Came at third" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "came in second" and "came in third"?

"Came in second" means finishing in the second position, while "came in third" means finishing in the third position. Both indicate a ranking in a competition or sequence.