lose points

USAGE SUMMARY

"lose points" is an acceptable and commonly used phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to the deduction of points for incorrect or unwanted behavior or actions. For example: "If you don't complete your assignments on time, you could lose points."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

No one wins or loses points for this.[1].

WikiHow

Against Tri-Nations teams it is played 22, won 4, lost 18, points for 301, against 670.

BBC

The S&P 500 lost 18 points to 1,120, while the Nasdaq was off 23 points to 2,268.

Forbes

On the field, Gretna actually earned 23 points, losing 10 points as the penalty for going into administration.

BBC

The 30-stock index lost 248.91 points at 24,758.12 after opening up more than 100 points.

The Washington Post

The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index fell 1.01 points, to 1,233.71, and the Nasdaq composite index lost 1.52 points, to 2,200.95.

The New York Times

The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 32.07 points, to 9,186.04, and the Nasdaq composite index lost 1.56 points, to 1,714.06.

The New York Times

[C5.] The Dow Jones industrial average lost 201.76 points, to 8,379.41.

The New York Times

500-stock index declined 5.87 points, to 1,183.78; and the Nasdaq composite index lost 0.28 point, to 2,007.51.

The New York Times

Sampras will lose 630 points from his No. 1 ranking.

The New York Times - Sports

The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index lost 4.35 points, to 1,491.72.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lose points", ensure the context clearly indicates the reason for the point reduction. This helps avoid ambiguity and ensures the message is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "lose points" without specifying the activity or criteria for which points are lost. For example, instead of saying "You will lose points", specify "You will lose points for late submissions".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lose points" functions primarily as a verb phrase indicating the action of having points deducted or removed from a total. Ludwig AI confirms this is an acceptable and commonly used phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lose points" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe the action of having points deducted, as supported by Ludwig AI. It is versatile, appearing in various contexts from news to wikis, and while generally neutral in register, it's important to use it with clarity, specifying the reasons for the point reduction. Alternatives like "forfeit points" or "deduct points" may be more suitable in formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

forfeit points

Implies a more formal or official removal of points.

deduct points

Focuses on the action of taking points away, often in a structured setting.

suffer point deductions

Emphasizes the negative consequence of having points removed.

be penalized points

Highlights the penalty aspect of losing points.

sacrifice points

Suggests a voluntary or strategic loss of points for a greater advantage.

relinquish points

Indicates a giving up or surrendering of points.

drop in score

Focuses on the decrease in the overall score as a result of losing points.

see a point reduction

Highlights the reduction in the number of points.

take a hit in points

Emphasizes the negative impact of losing points on the overall score.

incur a point loss

Focuses on the act of bringing about the loss of points.

FAQs

How to use "lose points" in a sentence?

You can use "lose points" to indicate a reduction in someone's score or standing, such as "Students who don't submit their assignments on time will "lose points"".

What is a formal alternative to "lose points"?

A more formal alternative to "lose points" would be "forfeit points" or "deduct points", often used in official or academic contexts.

Is it correct to say "loose points" instead of "lose points"?

No, it is incorrect. "Lose" is the verb meaning to suffer a loss, while "loose" is an adjective meaning not tightly fixed. Therefore, the correct phrase is ""lose points"".

What's the difference between "lose points" and "gain points"?

"Lose points" means to have points deducted from a score, while "gain points" means to add points to a score. They are direct opposites.