in select spots

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in select spots" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate specific locations or areas where something is applicable or present. Example: "The artist chose to display her work in select spots throughout the gallery to create a unique viewing experience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Katz's department starts with thousands of seed schedules, empty slates in which a handful of critical games with attractive story lines are placed in select spots.

The New York Times - Sports

Creating complex, convincing rock structures out of kiln-fired glaze, steel, and vacuum-molded plastics, Gunderson then coats his works with a high saturations of color in select spots.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Three vehicle speeds were studied including 10, 20, and 30 mph, and strains in selected spots on the columns and girders, and also reaction force of an external column were extracted for comparison.

International Journal of Advanced Structural Engineering (IJASE)

For identification of proteins in selected spots, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was employed.

BMC Cancer

This spot is an example of a good agreement between point cloud structure shown on the sample plot (part a) and adequate structure shown in selected spot within such HP.

Forest Ecosystems

The system goes live to select spots in midtown, between 14th and 59th street, with plans to roll it out to all of the city's 85,000 Mini-Meter parking spots by the end of next summer.

TechCrunch

Until the advent of broadcast media, the ḥakawātī (storyteller) remained a major fixture of Arabic-speaking countries, choosing a select spot either in the open air of evening or in a café from which to recite episodes from some of the great sagas of Arab lore (in Arabic, siyar shaʿbiyyah).

Encyclopedia Britannica

(C) Lymphangiogenic activity in the same plugs (panel B) was assessed by quantification of Lyve-1-positive endothelial cells (arrows) in selected hot spots.

Breast Cancer Research

Tumour-induced angiogenic activity was assessed by MVD and vessel cross-sectional area in selected hot spots of H&E sections (n = 4).

Breast Cancer Research

In each disk, SEM/EDS analysis was performed in three randomly selected spots.

BMC Oral Health

Most of the top contenders, who have their choice of when to start in the race, had selected spots later in the starting order, apparently believing the snow might be faster as the bright sun of a cloudless day melted and turned icy on the surface.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in select spots" to specify that something applies only to certain carefully chosen locations, rather than everywhere.

Common error

Avoid using "in select spots" when "in specific locations" or a more straightforward phrase would suffice. Clarity is key.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in select spots" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase. It modifies a verb or noun by specifying locations or areas where something is particularly present or applicable. According to Ludwig, it is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

38%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

13%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in select spots" is a prepositional phrase used to denote that something occurs or is applicable only in specific, chosen locations. While grammatically correct and usable as confirmed by Ludwig, it is relatively rare. The phrase appears across a range of contexts, including science, news and media, and encyclopedias, suggesting a neutral register. For alternative phrasing, consider "in specific areas" or "at chosen locations" to convey a similar meaning. When using "in select spots", ensure that it accurately reflects the limited or intentional placement of something, and avoid overuse for the sake of clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at chosen locations

Replaces "select spots" with a more formal synonym for locations, emphasizing intentionality.

in specific areas

Uses a more general term ("areas") to refer to the locations, suitable for a broader context.

at designated points

Suggests locations that have been officially or clearly marked or assigned.

in particular places

Emphasizes the distinctiveness of the chosen locations.

in carefully chosen locations

Highlights the thoughtfulness and precision involved in selecting the spots.

at strategic points

Suggests locations chosen for their importance or advantage in achieving a goal.

in prime locations

Indicates spots that are considered the best or most desirable.

in exclusive spots

Implies that the locations are limited or only available to a select few.

at favored places

Conveys that the locations are preferred or liked for a particular reason.

in handpicked locations

Emphasizes the personal selection of locations, often suggesting a higher quality or suitability.

FAQs

How can I use "in select spots" in a sentence?

You can use "in select spots" to indicate that something is present or applicable only in certain chosen locations. For example, "The artist chose to display her work "in select spots" throughout the gallery."

What's a good alternative to "in select spots"?

Alternatives include "in specific areas", "at chosen locations", or "in particular places", depending on the desired level of formality and the context.

When should I use "in select spots" instead of "everywhere"?

Use "in select spots" when you want to emphasize that something is not uniformly distributed or applicable, but rather intentionally placed or occurring in specific, chosen locations.

Is "in select spots" formal or informal?

"In select spots" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. More informal alternatives could be phrases like "in some places" or "here and there" depending on the context.