losing points

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "losing points" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something or someone diminishing in value, importance, or credibility. For example, "The politician's comments about immigration cost him points in the polls, making him lose points with potential voters."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

Basic things we were getting wrong and losing points.

The Guardian - Sport

"You have to remember the season's not started, we're not losing points by not driving now.

Independent

This is briefly entertaining, but randomly losing points quickly becomes frustrating.

The New York Times - Tech

After a fast start, though, the Americans began losing points to the agile and aggressive Australians.

The New York Times - Sports

The mid-exchanges are untidy with Kom trying to get inside and Adams clinching to avoid losing points.

The Guardian - Sport

In one experiment, three groups of 15 people were shown photographs of professional tennis players winning and losing points in critical matches.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

"You can lose points for messing about.

The Guardian

"You lose points on your final mark.

The New York Times

But CliffsNotes lost points for some dated writing.

The New York Times - Tech

"There were races when I messed up and lost points.

Independent

She lost points for not asking enough questions.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a team's performance, use "losing points" to highlight their failure to secure expected wins or draws, emphasizing the impact on their overall standing.

Common error

Avoid using "losing points" when you actually mean "missing the point". "Losing points" refers to a decrease in a score or standing, while "missing the point" means failing to understand the central idea or issue.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "losing points" functions primarily as a verbal phrase, often acting as the predicate of a sentence or clause. According to Ludwig AI, it is usable and it refers to something or someone diminishing in value, importance, or credibility. Examples from Ludwig show it describing teams, individuals, or even abstract concepts suffering a reduction in their standing or score.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "losing points" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression to describe a decline in score, value, or standing, according to Ludwig AI. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts, but also appears in scientific and wiki sources. When using the phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a decrease in score rather than a misunderstanding of a concept. Remember that the phrase is commonly used, but alternatives such as "forfeiting points" or "decreasing score" may be more appropriate depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

forfeiting points

Emphasizes the act of surrendering or giving up points, often due to a rule violation or penalty.

dropping points

Focuses on a sudden or unexpected decrease in points, often due to a mistake or unforeseen event.

sacrificing points

Highlights a deliberate decision to give up points for a strategic advantage or greater good.

relinquishing points

Suggests a formal or unwilling surrender of points, often due to external pressure or circumstance.

decreasing score

A more general term for reducing a score or total, not necessarily in a competitive context.

eroding advantage

Describes a gradual loss of a previously held advantage or lead.

ceding ground

Suggests giving up a position or advantage to an opponent.

diminishing returns

Implies a reduction in benefits or advantages gained, rather than a specific point value.

frittering away

Highlights a careless or wasteful loss of something valuable, including points.

squandering opportunities

Emphasizes the loss of chances to gain points or improve a situation.

FAQs

How can I use "losing points" in a sentence?

You can use "losing points" to describe a team's failure to win games, a student's errors on a test, or a product's shortcomings in a review. For example, "The team is "losing points" due to poor defense."

What are some alternatives to "losing points"?

Alternatives include "forfeiting points", "sacrificing points", or simply "decreasing score", depending on the context.

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

"Lose points" is the base form of the verb, while "losing points" is the present participle, often used in continuous tenses. Both are correct in different contexts. For example, "They cannot afford to "lose points"" vs. "They are "losing points" because of their mistakes."

What does it mean when a team is "losing points" in a league?

It means the team is not performing well enough to win or draw games, resulting in a decrease in their overall score and position in the league standings.