mainstream contest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mainstream contest" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a competition or event that is widely recognized and accepted by the general public or mainstream culture. Example: "The annual talent show has become a mainstream contest, attracting participants from all over the country."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

At the beginning, some riders feared that any mainstream contest would constrain them.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Since last November, the Maoists and the parties have been loosely allied, with the Maoists agreeing to join mainstream politics and contest elections under international supervision.

The Economist

The broadcaster's role as a multicultural hub where cult followings begin before going mainstream, gave the contest a sort of underground feel to it.

The Guardian - Opinion

Founded in 2013 following the George Zimmerman acquittal for the Trayvon Martin killing, "Black Lives Matter" clearly has moved from the margins to contest the mainstream.

Huffington Post

In this unconventional year, it will likely alter the trajectory of the presumptive leaders -- not least because of Marco Rubio's Saturday night train wreck -- as well as of those in the second tier, muddling the contest for "mainstream" candidate while winnowing the brace of also-rans.

Huffington Post

By doing moderately well and making Eurovision look mainstream, Blue will give the contest some much-needed street cred in London.

Huffington Post

The next day, the mainstream media uniformly agreed that the contest had been "won" by the incumbent, Joe Biden, whose rebuttals consisted mostly of mugging and smirking over Ryan's solemn efforts at prescription.

The New Yorker

None of these outsiders rose past marginal status, although their presence in primary contests often forced the mainstream candidate to make concessions that proved damaging in the general election.

The New York Times

This time, the possibility of an insidious "enemy within" has not been linked to political forces contesting for control of mainstream politics, which was often invoked to justify the excesses of previous hunts for fifth columnists.

The New York Times

And, with the LGBTQ community being the fastest disenfranchised group to touch the fringes of America's mainstream since the Stonewall Riots in 1969, some contest the only thing holding the larger community back is LGBTQ communities of color.

Huffington Post

She said she was grateful for the donation but questions whether she would get involved again, adding, "Who wouldn't want to receive a free treatment?" In some ways the contests mirror how I.V.F. has become mainstream.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mainstream contest" when you want to emphasize that a competition is widely accepted and part of popular culture. It implies a certain level of recognition and participation from the general public.

Common error

Avoid using "mainstream contest" to describe competitions that are only popular within specific subcultures or communities. This can create a false impression of widespread appeal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mainstream contest" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "mainstream" modifies the noun "contest". Ludwig, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, supports this usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mainstream contest" is a grammatically correct and understandable phrase that describes a competition widely accepted and recognized by the general public. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its usability. While relatively rare, it appears predominantly in news and media contexts. Consider alternatives like "popular competition" or "widely recognized contest" for nuanced meanings. Use this phrase to emphasize widespread appeal, but avoid it in niche contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

popular competition

Replaces "contest" with "competition", emphasizing the event's widespread appeal.

well-known competition

Stresses the competition's familiarity and recognition among people.

widely recognized contest

Focuses on the broad recognition of the contest, rather than its mainstream status.

publicly recognized contest

Similar to 'widely recognized', but with more emphasis on it being known to the public.

conventional competition

Substitutes "mainstream" with "conventional", highlighting the traditional or established nature of the event.

prominent contest

Highlights the contest's importance and visibility.

established contest

Emphasizes the contest's long-standing presence and acceptance.

major competition

Emphasizes the scale and significance of the competition.

accepted competition

Highlights the acceptance and approval of the competition by the general public.

traditional event

Shifts the focus from the competitive aspect to the event's traditional significance.

FAQs

How can I use "mainstream contest" in a sentence?

You can say, "The talent show has become a "mainstream contest", attracting participants from all over the country."

What's a good alternative to "mainstream contest"?

Alternatives include "popular competition" or "widely recognized contest", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "mainstream contest" formal or informal?

The term "mainstream contest" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it's more common in news or general-interest writing.

What does "mainstream" imply in the phrase "mainstream contest"?

"Mainstream" suggests that the "mainstream contest" is part of the dominant culture and widely participated in or recognized by the general public, rather than being a niche or specialized event.