come in third

USAGE SUMMARY

"come in third" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is commonly used to describe someone or something placing third in a competition or race. Example: Despite her best efforts, Sarah only managed to come in third place in the swimming competition.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

(Xi didn't even rate the second-most important headline — that was Premier Wen Jiabao's comings and goings — leaving Xi to come in third).

The New Yorker

Duracel had come in third, with 447.

The New York Times

The announcers didn't know who had come in third.

The New Yorker

"He would have come in third or fourth".

The New York Times - Sports

But deficits come in third place on the list".

The New York Times

The oil, gas and mining industries come in third, and the film business fourth.

The New York Times

The man had just come in third in the South Carolina primary.

The Washington Post

Nope, Italy come in third with the German team still to go.

The Guardian - Sport

But Democratic leaders say Mr. Edwards could come in third or even second.

The New York Times

Clad in a tuxedo, Ben Wikler of Cambridge, Mass., announced that Canada had come in third.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"If you had told us one year ago that we were going to come in third in Iowa, we would have given everything to that," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing results in a competition, use "come in third" to clearly indicate the participant who achieved the third position. For clarity, specify what they came in third in, for example, "She came in third in the race".

Common error

Avoid using "come in third" when the context doesn't involve rankings or competitions. For instance, don't say "He came in third for punctuality" unless it's a contest. Use more suitable phrases in unrelated contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come in third" primarily functions as a phrasal verb indicating the achievement of the third position in a competition or ranking. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples in its database.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "come in third" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to denote the third position in a ranking or competition. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its primary function is to report a specific outcome in a clear and neutral manner, predominantly within news and media contexts. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "finish in third place" or "take third place". Remember to use the phrase in contexts where ranking is applicable to avoid misuse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

place third

A more concise way of saying "come in third".

rank third

Focuses on the act of being positioned in the third rank.

finish in third place

Emphasizes the completion of an event resulting in third position.

get third

A shortened and more casual version of "come in third".

secure third position

Highlights the act of obtaining or guaranteeing the third position.

take third place

Focuses on the act of assuming or receiving the third position.

achieve third rank

Highlights the accomplishment of reaching the third rank.

end up in third spot

Implies a final outcome where the third position is attained.

be awarded third position

Focuses on the act of being granted or recognized with the third position.

attain the bronze medal

Specific to contexts where a bronze medal is awarded for third place.

FAQs

How can I use "come in third" in a sentence?

You can use "come in third" to describe the result of a competition. For instance, "The team was disappointed to "come in third" after leading for most of the game."

What's a more formal alternative to "come in third"?

In formal contexts, consider using "finished in third place" or "attained third position" as alternatives to ""come in third"".

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

No, the correct phrase is ""come in third"". The preposition 'in' is essential to the phrase's meaning when describing rankings.

What does it mean when someone says they "came in third"?

When someone says they ""come in third"", it means they achieved the third position in a competition, race, or ranking.