passes of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "passes of" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be a typographical error or a misinterpretation of a different phrase. Example: "The passes of time can be difficult to measure accurately." (If intended as "passes of time," for instance.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

The novel's novelty passes, of course.

The New York Times - Books

Three Packer receivers caught passes of at least 37 yards.

The New York Times - Sports

Roy caught scoring passes of 27, 31 and 30 yards.

The New York Times - Sports

Warner completed passes of 73, 52 and 32 yards.

The New York Times - Sports

Boldin caught scoring passes of 3, 8 and 79 yards.

The New York Times

Woods caught touchdown passes of 41, 60, and 13 yards.

The New York Times - Sports

He attempted 46 passes, of which 33 found the intended target, a ratio of 72 percent.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's full-season passes of largely broadcast television shows," he said.

The New York Times

Smith attempted just 26 passes of more than 25 yards, completing 11 for 376 yards.

The New York Times

Some players appear to have a consistent ability to deliver passes of above-average quality.

The New Yorker

Edwards caught Sanchez's four longest passes of the season, all of which were touchdowns.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing actions in sports or technical contexts, consider if more precise language like "number of passes", "successful passes", or "instances of passing" would improve clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "passes of" in formal or academic writing where more precise terminology can be applied. Opt for terms like "instances", "cycles", or "stages" depending on the context to enhance clarity and professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "passes of" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, often acting as an adjectival modifier to describe or quantify nouns, such as in sports contexts, as seen in Ludwig's examples about football or soccer. It can specify the number or type of passing actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

33%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "passes of" is quite common, as shown by Ludwig's examples, it can often benefit from more precise language depending on the context. According to Ludwig, the phrase is considered grammatically "incorrect", suggesting that alternatives like "instances of", "cycles of", or specifying "number of passes" are often more appropriate. Its usage varies from neutral sports reporting to more formal scientific descriptions, but careful consideration should be given to ensure clarity and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

instances of

Replaces "passes" with a more general term for occurrences or examples, offering a broader application.

occurrences of

Similar to "instances of", this alternative emphasizes that something happens or exists in a certain situation.

number of passes

Focuses on quantifying the act of passing, suitable in sports or technical contexts.

several passes

Indicates multiple instances of passing, often used when the exact number is not important.

cycles of

Replaces "passes" with a term that suggests a repeating sequence or process.

stages of

Emphasizes progression through different phases or steps, similar to completing passes.

iterations of

Suggests a repetitive process with slight variations, often used in technical or scientific contexts.

transits of

Suitable when describing something moving across or through a point or area.

throughpasses of

Highlights the action of passing through a certain point or process.

successful passes

Highlights the success rate in context of sports.

FAQs

How can I use "passes of" in a sentence?

While "passes of" appears in various contexts, consider if more specific wording would enhance clarity. For instance, instead of "multiple passes of the film", you could say "several "iterations of" the film" or "multiple "instances of" the film running through the process".

What are some alternatives to "passes of"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like ""instances of"", "cycles of", "stages of", or "number of passes" for better precision.

Is it grammatically correct to use "passes of"?

While commonly found, especially in sports and technical writing, "passes of" can often be improved by using more precise language. Consider alternatives that provide clearer context.

What's the difference between "passes of" and "successful passes"?

"Passes of" simply refers to instances where something passes, whether it's successful or not. "Successful passes" specifically denotes passes that achieve their intended goal, often in a sports context.