contest of both

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contest of both" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to a competition involving two parties or elements, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "In the contest of both teams, the final score was tied, leading to a dramatic overtime."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

As mentioned in the section of Materials and Methods, we just treat them as the single-strand (by using the heavy strand) circular genomes, because the gene contest of both strands of these genomes is already known.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Under FILA rules, contests of both international freestyle and Greco-Roman styles of touch-fall wrestling are similar, the object being in each case to throw or press the opponent on his back so that his shoulder blades touch the ground simultaneously.

Encyclopedia Britannica

2016 PRIMARY POLLS - National pollsters turned their attention to the developing 2016 presidential race Tuesday, releasing new horserace numbers for the nomination contests of both parties.

Huffington Post

Each October, Trelew also is home to the Eisteddfod Welsh cultural festival featuring a two-day contest of bards, both Welsh and Spanish, that attracts more than 1,000 people from throughout Argentina and abroad.

The New York Times - Travel

While the personal and ideological intensity of this contest on both the G.O.P. and the Democratic sides may be dispiriting to some voters, we see the competitiveness and the discussion of pressing national issues such as health care and gun control as positives.

The New York Times

Here's how.

Huffington Post

The Bulldogs completely dominated the contest on both sides of the ball, hitting the Chancellors with a torrid running attack and stepping up on defense to limit Chatsworth to a lone field goal in the waning minutes.

Los Angeles Times

In the contest of well-readness, both sides hit grand slams.

The New Yorker

It was a genuine contest of ideas, where both leaders outlined competing visions for how Australia should work, and for the most part connected their policies with voters' genuine concerns.

The Guardian - Opinion

Early work suggested that 'badges of status' would be beneficial to both signalers and receivers, since they would cut costs of contests to both contestants if an outcome would be predictable [5].

Plosone

It also provoked a contest of stereotypes feeding prejudice on both sides, a clash of symbols drawn from opposing narratives of Islamic purity and cynical exploitation.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "contest of both" in formal writing. Opt for clearer alternatives like "competition between the two" or "rivalry between both sides" to ensure your meaning is easily understood.

Common error

Don't rely on the phrase "contest of both". It sounds unnatural and can confuse readers. Instead, specify what kind of contest it is and who is involved, using phrases like "competition between X and Y".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contest of both" attempts to describe a competition or struggle involving two entities. Ludwig's analysis suggests the phrasing is questionable and less effective than alternative expressions. The examples indicate attempts to convey a comparison or rivalry.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "contest of both" is grammatically questionable and not recommended for clear and effective communication. While some sources use it, Ludwig highlights that it is an awkward phrasing and less effective compared to alternatives like "competition between the two" or "rivalry between both sides". Ludwig analysis suggests that you should prefer other constructions when writing or speaking.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

competition involving both

Rephrases to focus on the involvement of two entities in a competition.

competition between the two

Replaces "contest" with "competition" and clarifies that it involves two specific entities.

battle between both sides

Substitutes "contest" with "battle" to emphasize a struggle or conflict between two parties.

rivalry between the pair

Uses "rivalry" to suggest an ongoing competition or antagonism between two individuals or groups.

conflict involving the two

Replaces "contest" with "conflict", highlighting disagreement or opposition.

match between the two

Replaces "contest" with "match", implying a direct comparison or competition.

struggle between both parties

Emphasizes the effort and conflict involved in the situation, replacing "contest" with "struggle".

dispute between both parties

Uses "dispute" to refer to a disagreement or argument involving two sides.

contention between both groups

Replaces "contest" with "contention" to indicate a heated disagreement.

game between the two

Uses the word "game" instead of contest

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "contest of both"?

Consider using alternatives like "competition between the two", "rivalry between the pair", or "match between the two" for clarity and better grammatical structure.

Is "contest of both" grammatically correct?

The phrase "contest of both" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use more precise and common alternatives to clearly convey the intended meaning.

How can I use "contest of both" in a sentence correctly?

While not recommended, if you must use a similar structure, ensure the context is extremely clear. However, it's always preferable to rephrase using alternatives like "competition between both" or "match between the two".

What is the difference between "contest of both" and "competition between both"?

"Contest of both" is awkward and less common, while "competition between both" is clearer and more grammatically sound. The latter directly indicates a competitive scenario involving two specific entities.