lose marks

USAGE SUMMARY

"lose marks" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to a situation in which someone has failed to receive a particular score or grade due to making a mistake. For example, "I lost marks on the math test for forgetting to carry the one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Chinese businesses can score highly on their environmental contribution but lose marks on human rights.

The Guardian

Students found with mobile phones were more likely to lose marks.

The Guardian

I prefer to just note that if any undergraduate or graduate student in the UK wrote this in an exam, they would lose marks.

The New York Times

Some team members, such as Google, are strong on technique but could lose marks for style, especially from the Chinese judges.

The Guardian

Foodstuffs score high for dense amounts of nutrients such as vitamins and protein, but lose marks if they also contain baddies including added sugar, salt, saturated or trans fats.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Certainly Montaigne's idea of the "essay" (from essai, meaning "trial") is far closer to the rambling, highly personal, internet-spawned version than the type remembered from school, where to stray hors sujet is the quickest way to lose marks.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Two of the participants liked to speak their L1 whenever they did not know what to say and they forgot a word, but since the regulations of the institute prevented them to speak in their native language, Persian, they felt anxious and afraid to lose mark.

Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education

China loses marks because of a weak financial system.

The Economist

Even by having a comma in the wrong place you risk losing marks".

The Guardian

It loses marks for the high levels of infringement and insufficient legal safeguards.

The Washington Post

Students at Hull University face losing marks on essays unless they employ "gender-sensitive" language.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always proofread your assignments before submitting them. This helps to catch careless mistakes that might make you "lose marks".

Common error

Don't underestimate the importance of following formatting guidelines. Failing to adhere to these seemingly small requirements can lead to unnecessary deductions and cause you to "lose marks".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lose marks" functions as a verb phrase where "lose" is the verb indicating the action of deduction or failure to gain, and "marks" serves as the noun, representing points or grades. Ludwig AI validates this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

7%

Academic

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lose marks" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate a deduction of points or credit, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in News & Media and Wiki sources, its register ranges from neutral to informal. To avoid "losing marks", ensure careful attention to detail and adherence to instructions. Alternatives like "forfeit points" or "deduct credit" can be used depending on the context, but they present a low semantic change from the main query.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

forfeit points

Focuses on the act of surrendering points, either intentionally or unintentionally.

deduct credit

Emphasizes the removal of credit, implying a reduction in an earned score.

sacrifice marks

Highlights the act of giving up marks, often for a specific reason or consequence.

get penalized

Focuses on the act of receiving a penalty involving the deduction of marks.

receive a deduction

Highlights the action of getting a reduction of points.

suffer point reduction

Indicates experiencing a decrease in points, suggesting a negative outcome.

lower your grade

Refers to the impact of losing marks on overall academic performance.

affect your score

Highlights that point reduction affects the overall score.

compromise assessment

Denotes that losing marks makes the evaluation or assessment to look not good.

affect final grade

Implies that loss of marks can have impact on the final grade.

FAQs

How can I avoid "losing marks" on an exam?

To avoid "losing marks" on an exam, carefully review the instructions, manage your time effectively, and double-check your answers before submitting.

What are some common reasons students "lose marks" in essays?

Common reasons for "losing marks" in essays include poor grammar, inadequate referencing, not addressing the question properly, and lacking a clear structure.

Which is correct, "lose marks" or "loose marks"?

The correct phrase is "lose marks", which means to have points deducted. "Loose marks" is incorrect; "loose" refers to something not tightly fastened.

What can I say instead of "lose marks"?

You can use alternatives like "forfeit points", "deduct credit", or "get penalized" depending on the context.