take third place

USAGE SUMMARY

"take third place" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a situation in which someone or something is ranked in third place. For example, "In the race, she took third place."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In the UK and Ireland top five Brad Pitt's zombie apocalypse movie World War Z was just pipped by Man of Steel to take third place with takings of £2.42 million.

Independent

Italy defeated Norway to take third place.

The New York Times - Arts

Trailblazing Trading Leather plugged on honestly to take third place.

Independent

Efes Pilsen beat Barcelona, 75-69, takeake third place.

The New York Times - Sports

Dr. Orest Popovych, after losing his first two games, recovered to take third place, 2½‐2½.

The New York Times

Hunt went on to take third place and win the world championship by a point.

The Guardian - Sport

Recent polls suggest Le Pen could take third place in Sunday's vote.

The Guardian

Surviving an early tumble, Nicole Blood rallied to take third place and lead Saratoga Springs (N.Y).

The New York Times

Marchand D'Or ran on well close home to take third place without threatening the two principals.

The Guardian - Sport

Le Figaro suggests he would knock out Sarkozy to take third place.

The Guardian

Earlier in the night, Texas Tech squeezed past Mississippi State, 77-73, takeake third place.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "take third place" when describing the outcome of a competition or ranking where an individual or team finishes in the third position. It is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "take third place" when the context requires a different ordinal position, such as first, second, or fourth. Ensure the ranking is accurate to prevent misleading the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take third place" functions as a verb phrase, typically used as part of a larger sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. It describes the action of attaining the third position in a competition or ranking.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sports

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "take third place" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that describes achieving the third position in a competition or ranking. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and well-suited for various contexts, particularly news and sports reporting. Related phrases, such as "finish in third position" or "come in third", offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis and formality. When writing, ensure that the ranking is accurate and the tense is consistent. With its clear and consistent usage, mastering this expression will enhance the clarity and precision of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

achieve third position

Replaces "take" with "achieve" and "place" with "position", focusing on the accomplishment of the ranking.

finish in third position

Focuses on the final result of being in third, replacing "take" with "finish in".

secure third place

Emphasizes the act of obtaining or guaranteeing the third position.

attain third position

Similar to 'achieve', it highlights reaching the third rank.

end up in third place

Suggests the final outcome, possibly after some unexpected events.

be awarded third place

Highlights the recognition or formal awarding of the third position.

come in third

A more informal way of saying the same thing, common in spoken English.

rank third

Focuses on the final ranking without specifying the action of achieving it.

win the bronze medal

Specifically applies to competitions where third place is awarded with a bronze medal.

place third

A more concise version, directly stating the final ranking.

FAQs

How to use "take third place" in a sentence?

You can use "take third place" to describe someone finishing in third position in a competition. For example, "The team managed to "secure third place" after a tough match."

What can I say instead of "take third place"?

Alternatives include "finish in third position", "achieve third position", or "come in third", depending on the formality and context.

Which is correct, "take third place" or "took third place"?

"Take third place" is the infinitive form, while "took third place" is the past tense. The correct form depends on the tense of the sentence. For example: "They hope to "take third place"" versus "They "took third place" last year."

What's the difference between "take third place" and "place third"?

"Take third place" is more common and emphasizes the act of achieving the position. "Place third" is a more concise and direct way of stating the final ranking. For example, "The athlete was able to "take third place" in the competition" versus "The athlete "placed third" overall."