is second to

USAGE SUMMARY

"is second to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that comes after the first in a sequence or order. For example, "My hometown is second to none in terms of natural beauty."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"The quality is second to none".

The New York Times

A woman is second to none.

The Guardian - Sport

Their commitment is second to none.

The Guardian - Sport

Simply put, the Berkeley statistics faculty is second to none.

University of California, Berkeley

Our get-out-the-vote program is second to none.

The New York Times

Lowe's is second to Home Depot in home improvement retailing.

The New York Times

We have fan loyalty here that is second to none.

The New York Times - Sports

"The brand loyalty in racing is second to none".

The New York Times

Her contagious positivity and motivation is second to none.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

And our fame as fighters is second-to-none".

Independent

To top it off, my education is second to none.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is second to" when clearly establishing a hierarchy or order of importance between two items or concepts. For instance, "Customer satisfaction is second to none" emphasizes its paramount importance.

Common error

Avoid using "is second to" when comparing more than two items unless the context explicitly establishes a pairwise comparison. For instance, instead of saying "Among all departments, sales is second to none", specify which department sales is being compared to directly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is second to" functions primarily as a comparative adjective phrase. Ludwig's examples demonstrate it's used to rank or assess the quality of something in relation to others, or to assert its supremacy. It often implies a degree of excellence or superiority.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

14%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "is second to" functions as a comparative phrase used to express high regard or superiority. Grammatically correct and widely employed across diverse contexts, from news to academia, it signifies something of unparalleled quality, according to Ludwig AI. While versatile, ensure clarity by explicitly defining the comparison set. Alternatives include "is subordinate to" or "is inferior to", but "is second to" provides a distinct emphasis on excellence. Ludwig's examples show it's best practice is to use this phrase when clearly defining the comparison.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is secondary to

Highlights a lower level of importance.

is second-best to

Directly states being less than the best.

ranks below

Specifies a lower position in a hierarchy.

is subordinate to

Implies a lower rank or importance.

is outranked by

Implies a structured order where one is higher.

is inferior to

Indicates a lower quality or status.

takes a backseat to

Suggests a reduced role or priority.

is lesser than

Suggests a smaller degree or amount.

is of less importance than

Explicitly states a lower significance.

is not as good as

A general comparison indicating lower quality.

FAQs

How can I use "is second to" in a sentence?

Use "is second to" to indicate that something is excellent or unparalleled in a specific context. For example, "Their customer service is second to none" means their service is the best.

What are some alternatives to saying "is second to"?

You can use alternatives such as "is subordinate to", "is inferior to", or "is secondary to" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say something is "second to none", or should it be "second to one"?

"Second to none" is the correct and idiomatic expression. "Second to one" is grammatically incorrect and doesn't convey the intended meaning of being the best.

What's the difference between "is second to none" and "is comparable to"?

"Is second to none" means that something is the best and unmatched, while "is comparable to" means that something is similar in quality or characteristics to something else. They convey different meanings about the quality or status being described.