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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
excelled
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The word "excelled" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that someone demonstrated or did something better than anyone else. For example, "He excelled in the race and won first place."
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Formal & Business
Science
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
60 human-written examples
No one in the Madrid side excelled, though, as the holders were beaten 2-1 in Turin, but Ancelotti believes it was only a blip.
News & Media
Growing up on the farm, surrounded by animals and cared for by those he still refers to lovingly as "Mother and Father", he became a voracious reader, excelled in school, travelled to Buenos Aires to study music and finally returned to Olavarría to become a successful music teacher and professional musician with his own band, the Ignacio Hurban Grupo.
News & Media
Offering herself as a case in point, she explained how she'd excelled in life after adopting Barack Obama's name.
News & Media
Lahm completed 134 out of 134 passes v Hertha, excelled in four different positions against Mainz and shone throughout. 1 Marco Reus 16 goals and 14 assists – in 28 games.
News & Media
The scrum-half Bianca Blackburn has excelled this campaign, dovetailing well with the fly-half and captain, Katy Mclean, while the 18-year-old centre Abbie Brown has also caught the eye.
News & Media
It has been against the white ball in 50-over cricket, however, that Trott has really excelled, a reminder of how consistently he performed for England in the format, even if that was not always appreciated.
News & Media
Shiels owed an equal debt of gratitude to his goalkeeper, Cammy Bell, who excelled while denying a series of Celtic chances.
News & Media
Cristiano Ronaldo excelled again for Real Madrid as his hat-trick ensured they won 3-2 at Sevilla to remain two points behind leaders Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
News & Media
The American government has excelled in foreign policy because the constitution endows the president with sufficient power and freedom to initiate foreign policy and to back it with military might if needed.
News & Media
For example, Zynga, an online gaming company, excelled until Facebook changed how often its users were shown alerts from their friends boasting of their game scores.Recently, news firms have tried to take a more analytical approach to their online businesses.
News & Media
For it is not supplying labour for a manufacturing boom of the kind that helped so many in China, South Korea and Taiwan out of poverty, or for the IT services at which India has excelled.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Use "excelled" to highlight remarkable achievement in a specific domain. For instance, "She excelled in mathematics" emphasizes her outstanding performance in that particular subject.
Common error
Avoid using "excelled" without specifying the area of achievement. Instead of saying "He excelled", provide context: "He excelled in project management, leading the team to exceed all targets."
Source & Trust
90%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The word "excelled" primarily functions as a verb in the past tense, indicating that someone performed exceptionally well or surpassed expectations in a particular activity or area. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. Examples show its application in diverse contexts.
Frequent in
News & Media
40%
Formal & Business
30%
Science
20%
Less common in
Encyclopedias
3%
Wiki
4%
Reference
3%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "excelled" is a versatile verb used to denote superior performance or achievement. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and appropriate for a wide range of contexts. Examples sourced from leading publications like The Economist and The Guardian show its frequent usage in news, business, and academic settings. To maximize clarity, it's recommended to specify the domain in which someone has "excelled". While synonyms like "shone", "stood out", and "outperformed" exist, "excelled" maintains a clear and effective way to express exceptional ability.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
outperformed
Directly suggests exceeding the performance of others, often in a competitive setting.
shone
Implies outstanding performance or achievement, but with a slightly different nuance of brilliance or visibility.
surpassed
Implies exceeding expectations or a previous standard, indicating significant improvement or achievement.
stood out
Indicates that someone or something was noticeably better than others in a particular context.
distinguished oneself
Suggests setting oneself apart from others through exceptional qualities or achievements.
thrived
Suggests flourishing and achieving success, often in challenging circumstances.
flourished
Similar to thrived, but often emphasizes growth and prosperity.
triumphed
Implies a significant victory or achievement, often after a struggle.
prevailed
Indicates overcoming obstacles to achieve success or victory.
dominated
Indicates a strong position of control and superior performance in a specific area.
FAQs
How can I use "excelled" in a sentence?
Use "excelled" to describe someone's outstanding performance in a specific area. For example, "She "excelled" in her role as a project manager."
What are some synonyms for "excelled"?
Alternatives to "excelled" include "shone", "stood out", or "outperformed", depending on the specific context.
Is it correct to say "excelled at" or "excelled in"?
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
90%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested