quiz

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "quiz" is correct and usable in written English.
It can refer to a test or competition involving questions or problems to be answered or solved. For example, "The teacher gave the class an impromptu quiz on the lesson material."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's intriguing that Withers has made his living writing advertising jingles, putting him somewhere in the pages of a pub pop quiz alongside Barry Manilow (whose credits in his early career include songs for Stridex acne fighting products) and Justin Hawkins of the Darkness (everyone from Ikea to Irn Bru).

The Guardian - Music

The answer for this week's Twitter quiz is...... Muscat, in Oman.

The Guardian

Follow us on Twitter for the next live quiz next Friday.

The Guardian

Related: Football quiz: Bournemouth Mourinho said: "I don't think my players got the respect that they deserve after what they did from day one until the last day.

The Guardian - Sport

ITV Play On the ITV2+1 channel on "up to" 30 occasions rebroadcasts of ITV Play quiz shows ran without a "lines closed" warning on competitions, meaning viewers were charged but could not win.

The Guardian

Muscovites, do you want to help us set a quiz for the rest of the world?

The Guardian

Inside the stuffy assembly rooms or outside among fluttering flags and cutouts of José Manuel Barroso and Herman Van Rompuy, presidents of the European commission and council respectively, they quiz ministers, simulate climate catastrophe and learn international sign language.

The Guardian

David Cameron has a joke about the coming Euro elections: "For Nigel Farage it's like a pub quiz and he's playing his joker on his specialist round".

The Guardian

– quiz "The history of Russian culture has always been a pendulum swinging between love with the west and a more introverted search for its true self," Tsentsiper said.

The Guardian

(That's 4am in the UK – stay up!) Whether you want to quiz him about sex, drugs, swearing or why he swopped Scotland for Miami – or anything else at all – please post your questions below.

The Guardian - Books

But to finish, a quiz – courtesy of CharlieFarley, who challenges readers to recognise his home city from these clues: It has the cathedral with the second tallest spire in England.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "quiz" when referring to a light-hearted or informal test of knowledge, often used for entertainment or educational purposes. Ensure the context aligns with this level of formality.

Common error

Avoid using "quiz" to describe high-stakes or formal evaluations like final exams. Opt for terms like "examination" or "assessment" in such contexts to maintain the appropriate level of seriousness and formality.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "quiz" is as a noun, referring to a test of knowledge or a competition. It can also function as a verb, meaning to question someone closely. Ludwig provides examples showcasing both usages.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "quiz" functions primarily as a noun referring to a test of knowledge or a competition, but it can also be used as a verb meaning to question. As indicated by Ludwig, the term is grammatically correct and very common, appearing frequently in news and media, formal business settings, and scientific contexts. While synonyms like "test" or "examination" exist, "quiz" often implies a shorter, less formal assessment. When writing, reserve "quiz" for light-hearted or informal evaluations, and avoid it in high-stakes situations. The phrase offers a versatile way to assess understanding, entertain through trivia, or challenge knowledge across various domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

test

Focuses on assessment of knowledge or skills.

pop quiz

Indicates a short, often unannounced test.

examination

Suggests a more formal or comprehensive assessment.

assessment

Implies a broader evaluation of understanding or ability.

knowledge test

Specifically refers to testing one's knowledge.

competition

Highlights the competitive aspect of a quiz.

trivia game

Highlights the entertainment aspect of a quiz.

interrogation

Emphasizes a detailed questioning process.

questionnaire

Implies a written set of questions to gather information.

survey

Suggests gathering information through a series of questions.

FAQs

How to use "quiz" in a sentence?

You can use "quiz" to refer to a test of knowledge. For example: "The teacher gave a surprise "pop quiz" on the material covered this week."

What can I say instead of "quiz"?

You can use alternatives like "test", "examination", or "assessment" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "quiz" or "test"?

Both "quiz" and "test" are correct, but they have different connotations. A "quiz" is often shorter and less formal than a "test".

What's the difference between a "quiz" and an "examination"?

An "examination" is typically a more formal and comprehensive assessment than a "quiz". A "quiz" is often shorter and less structured compared to an "examination".