for the third time in a row

USAGE SUMMARY

"for the third time in a row" is correct and is typically used to refer to a series of three consecutive events.
For example, "He has achieved top marks for the third time in a row."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"It appears that the VVD will be the biggest party in the Netherlands for the third time in a row," Rutte told supporters in the Hague.

Huffington Post

They could win here for the third time in a row.

The Guardian - Sport

The Kite Runner was voted reading group book of the year for the third time in a row.

The Guardian - Books

For the third time in a row, Sam Worthington (Avatar, Terminator: Salvation) plays an Aussie bloke who finds himself with super-powers.

Independent

The main opposition party, losing for the third time in a row, said the poll had been rigged and promised mass protests.

The Economist

Vladimir Putin has been voted the most powerful person in the world for the third time in a row, in a new list published by financial magazine Forbes.

Independent

For the third time in a row, the Philippine government is extending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program CARPP) which marked its 26th anniversary this June.

The Guardian

The England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke congratulated Flower and the players for their efforts in securing the urn for the third time in a row.

The Guardian - Sport

And the most important is: will Garry Monk's side inflict beat Louis van Gaal's team for the third time in a row in the Premier League?

The Guardian - Sport

Vienna has topped the Mercer Quality of Living survey as the city with the highest quality of living worldwide for the third time in a row.

The Guardian - Opinion

San Francisco Giants first baseman J.T. Snow won his sixth straight award, and Braves outfielder Andruw Jones won for the third time in a row.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for the third time in a row" to clearly indicate a continuous repetition of an event, emphasizing the unbroken sequence. Ensure the context supports the idea of consecutiveness.

Common error

Avoid using "for the third time in a row" if the events are not directly consecutive. For example, if there were interruptions or intervening instances, a phrase like "for the third time" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for the third time in a row" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate frequency and consecutiveness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes the repetition of an action or event in a series of three.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Sport

25%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "for the third time in a row" is a common and grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to emphasize the consecutive occurrence of an event. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a clear and direct way to highlight a recurring pattern. Predominantly found in news and sports reporting, it maintains a neutral tone, making it suitable for various contexts. When writing, ensure the events are truly consecutive to avoid misrepresentation. Alternatives like "three consecutive times" offer similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

three consecutive times

Focuses on the consecutiveness of the occurrences.

three times in succession

Highlights that the events followed one after another without interruption.

for three straight times

Similar to "consecutive", emphasizes uninterrupted sequence.

three times running

More informal, emphasizes the ongoing nature of the repetition.

on three successive occasions

More formal, highlights individual instances within the sequence.

in three sequential instances

Emphasizes the ordered sequence of the events.

for the past three times

Highlights the duration and consistency of the action happening.

a hat trick

Specifically refers to achieving something three times in sports.

in a triple occurrence

Refers to a situation happening three times but more abstractly.

a three-peat

Informal term to describe winning a championship three times consecutively.

FAQs

How can I use "for the third time in a row" in a sentence?

You can use "for the third time in a row" to indicate that something has happened three consecutive times. For example, "The team has won the championship "for the third time in a row"."

What does "for the third time in a row" mean?

It means that something has happened in three successive or consecutive instances without interruption.

Is there a shorter way to say "for the third time in a row"?

Yes, depending on the context, you could use "three consecutive times" or "three times running".

How is "for the third time in a row" different from "for the third time"?

"For the third time in a row" emphasizes that the events happened consecutively, while "for the third time" simply indicates that something has happened three times, not necessarily one after another.