legitimate hit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "legitimate hit" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to describe a successful or valid outcome, often in relation to a search result, a business transaction, or a successful action. Example: "After extensive research, we finally found a legitimate hit that matched our criteria for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

He had one legitimate hit, the Drake collaboration "Right Above It," and any number of smaller ones.

The New York Times - Arts

Of the new material only one song — "6 Foot 7 Foot," with Cory Gunz — is a legitimate hit, but even that's just a recasting of his 2008 smash "A Milli".

The New York Times - Arts

Universal's summer was robust, with "The Incredible Hulk" financed by Marvel overcoming bad buzz to become a legitimate hit, and with the musical "Mamma Mia!" printing money, especially overseas.

The New York Times

With the help of Wally World, the Boxee TV has a solid chance to being a legitimate hit.

TechCrunch

"Bright," however, could be a legitimate hit for Netflix – the kind of movie that would have been shown in theaters – at scale, not limited releases –  in years past.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

While still small, New York has had legitimate hits and is now being taken increasingly seriously.

The New York Times

"We're coming back slowly," said Bernadette Mansur, the league's vice president for corporate communications, but the attention to this has created a lot of legitimate hits on the site.

The New York Times - Sports

The authors make a good case for the importance of the recent publication on PAINS compounds, hits from screening that are artifacts and may drain resources in followup form legitimate hits.

F1000Research

Knowledge of the transcriptome of the cell line used in our K/P JAK/STAT screen allowed us to estimate the false positive rate, as few unexpressed genes are expected to be legitimate hits.

BMC Genomics

Al-Qaida was the enemy, it had taken root in Afghanistan, and so it was legitimate to hit back.

The Guardian - Opinion

In tennis, for example, it is legitimate to hit the ball directly at your opponent to win a point.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "legitimate hit", ensure the context clearly establishes what constitutes 'legitimacy' in the given situation. For instance, in music, it might refer to chart performance or critical acclaim, while in scientific research, it could mean results that meet rigorous methodological standards.

Common error

Avoid using "legitimate hit" loosely. Ensure the success isn't merely perceived but objectively verifiable. Overusing the phrase can dilute its impact, especially if the 'legitimacy' isn't clearly defined or supported by evidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "legitimate hit" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a subject complement or object in a sentence. Ludwig indicates the phrase is correct and usable. The term usually refers to something achieving genuine success or validation within a specific context.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "legitimate hit" is used to describe something that has achieved genuine and verifiable success. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While not exceedingly common, the phrase is found in diverse contexts, with a notable presence in news media and scientific domains. When using this phrase, ensure you clearly define what 'legitimacy' means within the given situation to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "genuine success" and "authentic triumph" can offer nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

genuine success

Emphasizes the authenticity and realness of the success.

valid success

Focuses on the validity and justification of the success.

authentic triumph

Highlights the originality and realness of the achievement.

bona fide success

Uses a formal expression to emphasize the good faith and genuineness of the success.

veritable triumph

Emphasizes that the triumph is true and not false, an authentic one.

real achievement

Focuses on the tangibility and actuality of the accomplishment.

actual success

Highlights the fact that the success is not hypothetical but has truly happened.

verifiable success

Emphasizes that the success is true and easy to confirm.

confirmed success

Highlights that the success has been already approved or certified.

established success

Emphasizes that the success is proved and well-recognised.

FAQs

How can I use "legitimate hit" in a sentence?

You can use "legitimate hit" to describe something that is genuinely successful or valid, such as "The movie was a "legitimate hit" at the box office" or "The research produced several "legitimate hits" in the drug discovery process."

What are some alternatives to saying "legitimate hit"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "genuine success", "valid success", or "authentic triumph".

What makes something a "legitimate hit" versus just a 'hit'?

The term "legitimate hit" implies that the success is not only apparent but also genuine and verifiable. It suggests that the success is deserved and based on valid criteria, setting it apart from a mere 'hit', which could be fleeting or based on less substantial factors.

Is it redundant to say "legitimate hit", since a 'hit' implies success?

While 'hit' implies success, adding "legitimate" emphasizes the genuine and valid nature of that success. It distinguishes the achievement from something that might be a fluke or based on questionable methods. Therefore, it's not necessarily redundant but adds a layer of meaning.