quest for excellence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "quest for excellence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a pursuit or striving towards achieving high standards or superior quality in various contexts, such as business, education, or personal development. Example: "Our organization is committed to a continuous quest for excellence in customer service and product quality."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

In their quest for excellence, some players forsake all other sports.

The New York Times

We were drawn together in a quest for excellence beyond capacity - like a musical Bauhaus.

The Guardian - Music

Mr. Cohl described the changes to come as part of a quest for excellence, not a rescue.

The New York Times

It was a thought that shone a light on the extraordinary sacrifices Murray has made in his quest for excellence.

The Guardian - Sport

Do you ever overestimate your abilities so that, as the article reports about Mr. Obama, those close to you might say your quest for excellence seems like cockiness?

The New York Times

But even those loyal to Mr. Obama say that his quest for excellence can bleed into cockiness and that he tends to overestimate his capabilities.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

German producers might hope the markets in other countries will continue to become more like their own, but the chances of that happening look increasingly slim if only because the quest for engineering excellence, greater power, better safety and ever more efficient engines has pushed up costs.More than any other nation, Germans are obsessed by the car: it was invented in their country.

The Economist

IN the back room of a SuperTarget in Minnetonka, Minn., a western suburb of Minneapolis, the quest for controlled excellence can be seen from the spotless floors to the posted "error rates," which measure how often a worker puts a product on the wrong shelf.

The New York Times

The global quest for scientific excellence has intensified enormously in recent years.

Science Magazine

In the quest for academic excellence, the government of Malaysia is very concerned about the quality of higher education institutions.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

I was able to catch up with Hargreaves and Shirley to talk about the inspiring ideas laid out in their latest book, The Global Fourth Way: The Quest for Educational Excellence (Corwin, September 2012).

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "quest for excellence" to describe a dedicated and sustained effort to achieve high standards in a specific field or activity. Be mindful of the context and ensure that the phrase accurately reflects the level of commitment and determination involved.

Common error

While "quest for excellence" is a powerful phrase, avoid using it too frequently in the same piece of writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "pursuit of excellence" or "striving for excellence" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quest for excellence" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a preposition or as a subject complement. Ludwig's examples show it describing a goal or ambition. It can describe the sacrifices Murray has made in his quest for excellence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Wiki

13%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "quest for excellence" is a noun phrase that describes a dedicated pursuit of high standards, deemed grammatically correct and fairly common in usage. As Ludwig confirms, it's most frequently used in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. When writing, remember that while the phrase is powerful, overuse can be avoided by utilizing alternatives such as "pursuit of excellence" or "striving for excellence". Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase suggests an ongoing commitment to surpassing ordinary achievement levels and inspires dedication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pursuit of excellence

Replaces "quest" with "pursuit", a direct synonym, maintaining the same structure and meaning.

striving for excellence

Changes the noun-based phrase to a gerund phrase, emphasizing the continuous effort.

search for excellence

Substitutes "quest" with "search", another synonym, keeping the phrase's original intent.

drive for excellence

Uses "drive" to highlight the motivation behind seeking excellence.

aspiration for excellence

Replaces "quest" with "aspiration", focusing on the desired outcome of achieving excellence.

yearning for excellence

Uses "yearning" to express a deep desire for achieving high standards.

hunt for excellence

Substitutes "quest" with "hunt", suggesting a more active and deliberate search.

desire for excellence

Emphasizes the underlying motivation to achieve high quality.

ambition for excellence

Focuses on the aspirational aspect of achieving superior standards.

struggle for excellence

Highlights the effort and challenges involved in achieving excellence.

FAQs

What does "quest for excellence" mean?

The phrase "quest for excellence" describes a dedicated and ongoing pursuit to achieve high standards and superior quality in a particular field or endeavor. It implies a strong commitment and determination to surpass ordinary levels of achievement.

What can I say instead of "quest for excellence"?

You can use alternatives like "pursuit of excellence", "striving for excellence", or "search for excellence" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a quest to excellence" instead of "quest for excellence"?

No, the correct preposition to use is "for". "Quest for excellence" is the standard and grammatically correct phrasing. Using "to" would be grammatically incorrect.

How formal is the phrase "quest for excellence"?

The phrase "quest for excellence" has a neutral to slightly formal tone. It is suitable for use in professional, academic, and journalistic contexts. More informal settings might benefit from simpler language.