out of position

USAGE SUMMARY

"out of position" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to someone or something that is not carrying out the role or task they are supposed to be doing. For example, "The security guard was out of position, leaving the building vulnerable to intruders."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

He is always out of position.

The New York Times

"I was out of position," Chandler said.

The New York Times - Sports

Feet fell out of position.

The New York Times - Arts

Never be out of position.

The New York Times

Leetch, Low said, was out of position.

The New York Times - Sports

Their hands are seldom out of position.

The New York Times - Sports

"We had guys playing out of position.

The New York Times - Sports

He and Johnson were out of position.

The New York Times - Sports

"I know I'm playing out of position.

The New York Times - Sports

Caught out of position for second goal.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Here the best attacker in the league was marked by an out-of-position central midfielder.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "out of position" in sports writing, be specific about how the player's positioning affected the play. For example, instead of saying "The defender was out of position", explain "The defender was out of position, allowing the forward an open shot on goal".

Common error

Avoid using "out of position" too broadly. Instead of stating "The team was out of position", clarify which players or units were misplaced and how it impacted the overall strategy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "out of position" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, often modifying a noun or verb to indicate a state of being misplaced or incorrectly located. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "out of position" is a commonly used prepositional phrase that describes a state of being misplaced or incorrectly located. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a grammatically sound and widely accepted expression. It is frequently used in news and sports contexts, as shown by the examples, but also finds application in scientific and technical writing. The phrase is versatile, and while synonyms like "misaligned" or "displaced" can be used, "out of position" offers a clear and direct way to communicate that something or someone is not where they should be.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the wrong place

Specifies the location is incorrect.

in the wrong spot

Similar to "in the wrong place", but slightly more informal.

not in place

A straightforward way to state that something is not where it should be.

out of alignment

Indicates a deviation from a correct or expected arrangement.

misaligned

This term indicates a lack of proper alignment, suggesting something is not in its correct place.

unsuitably placed

Emphasizes that the placement is not appropriate for the situation.

malpositioned

A more formal term for being incorrectly positioned.

displaced

Implies being moved from the usual or correct position.

off target

Suggests a deviation from an intended goal or location.

unprepared

Focuses on the lack of readiness, which can result from being in the wrong situation.

FAQs

How can I use "out of position" in a sentence?

You can use "out of position" to describe someone or something that is not in the correct or expected location, such as "The defender was "out of position", leaving the goal undefended".

What does it mean for a player to be "out of position" in sports?

In sports, being "out of position" means a player is not where they should be according to the team's strategy, which can lead to missed opportunities or defensive vulnerabilities.

What are some alternatives to saying "out of position"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "misaligned", "displaced", or "not in place".

Is it correct to say someone is "out of position", or should I use another phrase?

"Out of position" is a correct and commonly used phrase. However, you can also use other phrases like "in the wrong place" or "unprepared" depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.