runner up

USAGE SUMMARY

"runner-up" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is generally used when referring to the person or team who comes in second in a competition. For example: "The runner-up of last week's tennis tournament was Jared Anderson."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Runner up: Andrew!

Huffington Post

Runner up: Troy Tulowitzki.

Huffington Post

Runner up: London.

Vice

FluroSat runner up presentation.

TechCrunch

Try to win or be runner up.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

runner-up is hyphenated.

The New York Times

Runner-up: Everyone else.

The Guardian - Arts

Runner-up: Jair Jurrjens, Atlanta.

The New York Times

Runner-up: Where to start!

The Guardian - Arts

(The runner-up was "fascism").

The New Yorker

Our first runner-up: Twitlandia.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "runner up" to clearly indicate the second-place finisher in a competition or ranking. Ensure the context makes it clear what the individual or team was the runner up in.

Common error

Avoid inconsistent hyphenation. While "runner-up" is acceptable, ensure consistency within the same document. Choose one style and stick to it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "runner up" functions primarily as a noun or noun phrase, designating the individual or team that finishes in second place in a competition or contest. Ludwig shows numerous examples of this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "runner up" is a widely recognized and grammatically correct term used to denote the second-place finisher in a competition or contest. Ludwig confirms its proper usage and prevalence across diverse contexts. While "runner-up" (with a hyphen) is an acceptable alternative, consistency is key. To avoid common errors, it is important to clearly identify the competition where the “runner up” achieved second place. Ludwig’s examples come from authoritative sources like The New York Times and BBC showing that it is considered appropriate for any source type, whether academic, business or news.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Second place

Directly indicates the position achieved, focusing on the ranking.

Finalist

Emphasizes participation in the final stage, though not the winner.

Silver medalist

Specifically for sports contexts, denoting the silver medal winner.

Near winner

Highlights the closeness to achieving first place.

Second-in-command

Indicates the person next to the leader, often in a hierarchical structure.

Vice champion

A formal alternative indicating the second-best performer.

Challenger

Implies an attempt to win or surpass, but not necessarily succeeding.

Contender

Suggests someone who competes for a top position, but without confirmation of success.

Alternative

Highlights that the second choice could be used in place of the first.

Backup

Denotes someone or something that acts as a replacement.

FAQs

How do you use "runner up" in a sentence?

Use "runner up" to describe the person or team that finished in second place in a competition. For example, "She was the "runner up" in the baking contest".

What can I say instead of "runner up"?

You can use alternatives like "second place", "finalist", or "silver medalist" depending on the context.

Is "runner up" one word or two?

"Runner up" is typically written as two words, although "runner-up" (with a hyphen) is also acceptable. Consistency in usage is key.

What's the difference between "winner" and "runner up"?

The "winner" is the individual or team that achieves first place, while the "runner up" finishes in second place.