marked for success

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "marked for success" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone or something that is destined or likely to achieve success. Example: "With her dedication and talent, she seems marked for success in her career."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

With his family background, Dent has been marked for success since he was a teenager.

The New York Times - Sports

Frances is drastically different from everyone else (Robert Bresson once said that an artist is simply someone who's unable to do things the way that everyone else does them), and her differences — her way of speaking, her gestures, her sense of timing, and her very willingness to face her fate down to its bedrock of misery — can't conceal the fact that she is in fact marked for success.

The New Yorker

Cemex was not marked for success: Lorenzo Zambrano had to create it.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

After his election, he was marked for political success at Westminster as a parliamentary private secretary to Ted Short as postmaster general, and then as a minister at the Department of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Technology.

The Guardian

No one, including herself, thought she was marked for any kind of success.

The New York Times

The election also marked a success for gay and lesbian voters.

The New York Times

The vector control for transmissible diseases, such as yellow fever and malaria, by William C. Gorgas in 1904, marked a success for the Panama Canal construction and the establishment of health research in the Panamanian isthmus [ 15].

Health Research Policy and Systems

In a pattern that marks her hunger for success, she was on the move again within the year.

The Guardian

What will mark success for you with the ad campaign?

The New York Times - Magazine

The current offensive in South Waziristan marked a significant success for the Obama Administration, which had urged Zardari to take greater control of the tribal areas.

The New Yorker

Like Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, which opened the following year, the Niterói museum marked a surprising success for unrestrainedly expressionistic architecture.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "marked for success" when you want to convey that someone or something has inherent qualities or favorable circumstances that make success highly probable. It is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "marked for success" when describing routine or ordinary situations. Reserve it for scenarios where there's a genuine indication of exceptional potential or predetermination toward a positive outcome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "marked for success" functions as a descriptive phrase, indicating that someone or something possesses the qualities or circumstances that make them likely to achieve a positive outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "marked for success" is a phrase used to describe someone or something with a high probability of achieving a positive outcome, owing to inherent qualities or favorable circumstances. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. While grammatically correct and widely understood, it is relatively rare, appearing most frequently in news and media sources. Alternatives such as "destined for success" or "poised for success" offer similar meanings, depending on the intended nuance. When using "marked for success", reserve it for situations where exceptional potential is evident to avoid overuse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

destined for success

Emphasizes a predetermined or inevitable successful outcome. This suggest a stronger sense of fate than "marked for success".

poised for success

Suggests readiness and a favorable position to achieve success, highlighting the preparation involved.

set up for success

Indicates that arrangements or conditions are in place to facilitate a successful outcome, focusing on the setup.

slated for success

Implies that success is planned or scheduled, often by external forces or decisions. Highlights scheduling and planning.

primed for success

Highlights a state of being fully prepared and ready to achieve success, emphasizing readiness.

geared for success

Suggests that resources and efforts are specifically directed toward achieving success. Emphasizes resources and direction.

on track for success

Indicates progress and adherence to a plan that leads to success, emphasizing the journey and plan.

bound for glory

Similar to destined for success, but it conveys more emphasis and strength in the future results.

certain to succeed

Conveys a strong belief or prediction that success will definitely happen. Places stress on certainty.

predestined to triumph

Suggests that success is not only likely but divinely or irrevocably determined, adding a spiritual or fateful dimension.

FAQs

What does it mean to be "marked for success"?

To be "marked for success" means that someone or something is seen as likely or destined to achieve a positive outcome, often due to inherent qualities, favorable circumstances, or deliberate preparation.

What can I say instead of "marked for success"?

You can use alternatives like "destined for success", "poised for success", or "set up for success" depending on the context.

Is "marked for success" a formal or informal phrase?

"Marked for success" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the overall tone and subject matter of your writing.

How does "marked for success" differ from "destined for success"?

While both imply a high likelihood of achieving a positive outcome, "destined for success" suggests a stronger, almost predetermined sense of fate, whereas "marked for success" indicates inherent qualities or circumstances that favor success.