secured a place

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "secured a place" is a valid and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when someone has achieved something or acquired something, such as a job, an opportunity, or a spot in a contest or competition. For example, "After months of preparing, she finally secured a place in the school's honors program."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She takes obvious pride in having secured a place there.

The Guardian - Business

Nevin won and secured a place in the final.

The Guardian - Sport

Although the book received some poor reviews, it has secured a place on best-seller lists.

The New York Times

Katie Blaylock secured a place at Sheffield Hallam to study a degree in biology through Clearing.

Independent

Newly married, Grace has secured a place on the overcrowded boat, but her husband has not.

Princeton University

These advantages have secured a place for the methodology in the conduct of many clinical trials of novel therapies.

Computational Statistics & Data Analysis

The Senegalese had also already secured a place at the finals in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

The Guardian - Sport

For the first time, Austria have secured a place at a European Championship by qualifying.

The Guardian - Sport

Oddly enough, Moreno has not secured a place on the roster.

The New York Times - Sports

When universities reopened, Li secured a place at Peking University through the fiercely contested entrance exams.

The Guardian

Rangers secured a place in the last eight of the League Cup, where Ayr United await.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "secured a place" to emphasize that someone has successfully obtained a position, spot, or opportunity through their actions or qualifications.

Common error

Avoid using "secured a place" when the achievement was not earned or actively obtained. It's more appropriate when describing active accomplishment rather than passive receipt of a place.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "secured a place" functions as a verb phrase indicating the successful attainment or acquisition of a position, opportunity, or spot. Ludwig examples show it used across varied contexts, from sports to academia, showing its versatile application.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Academia

7%

Science

4%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "secured a place" is a versatile phrase used to express the successful attainment of a position, opportunity, or spot. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for a wide range of contexts, especially News & Media. Alternatives include "obtained a position", "gained entry", and "earned a spot". When writing, remember that the most common error is to use it in passive scenarios, rather focusing the action toward actively acquired positions. "Secured a place" is a very common phrase, as shown by Ludwig's real-world examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obtained a position

Focuses on the act of getting a job or role.

won a position

Indicates success or victory in getting a place.

earned a spot

Highlights the effort or merit involved in getting a place.

got accepted

Emphasizes the act of being chosen or approved.

gained entry

Emphasizes the act of entering or being admitted into something.

qualified for

Focuses on meeting the requirements or criteria to get a place.

achieved acceptance

Highlights the accomplishment of being accepted.

attained membership

Suggests becoming a member of a group or organization.

made the team

Specifically refers to being selected for a sports team.

booked a spot

Emphasizes a reservation for an event or activity.

FAQs

How can I use "secured a place" in a sentence?

You can use "secured a place" to indicate that someone has successfully obtained a position or opportunity, such as "She "secured a place" at the university after acing her exams".

What can I say instead of "secured a place"?

You can use alternatives like "obtained a position", "gained entry", or "earned a spot" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "has secured a place"?

Yes, "has secured a place" is grammatically correct and commonly used in sentences to indicate that someone has successfully obtained a position or opportunity.

What's the difference between "secured a place" and "reserved a place"?

"Secured a place" implies that the place was earned or obtained through effort or qualification, while "reserved a place" simply means that a spot was held or kept for someone.