too close to call

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "too close to call" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is often used in sports or political contexts to describe a situation where the outcome is too uncertain to predict. Example: The race for mayor was too close to call, with both candidates receiving almost the same number of votes.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Too close to call".

The New York Times - Sports

Status: too close to call.

The New Yorker

"It is too close to call.

The Economist

"Too close to call," Ryan said.

The New York Times - Sports

Florida remains too close to call.

The New York Times

Best Actor, Musical Too close to call.

The New York Times

This may be too close to call.

The New York Times

It was too close to call.

Independent

But it's been too close to call".

The New York Times - Sports

I said, it's too close to call.

The New York Times

It was not too close to call.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "too close to call" when you want to convey uncertainty about an outcome, especially in situations involving competition, elections, or predictions.

Common error

Avoid using "too close to call" in situations that don't involve a competition or comparison where a definitive outcome is expected. For example, it wouldn't be appropriate to say "The weather is too close to call" unless you're comparing different weather forecasts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "too close to call" primarily functions as a descriptive idiom. It's an adjective phrase used to qualify a noun (usually an event, election, or competition) and indicate that the outcome is highly uncertain and unpredictable. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "too close to call" is a common and grammatically correct idiom used to describe situations where the outcome is highly uncertain. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, as validated by Ludwig AI, it conveys a sense of suspense when referring to elections, competitions, or any scenario with unpredictable results. Alternatives such as "neck and neck" or "a toss-up" can be used to express similar meanings. It's important to use the phrase in appropriate competitive contexts to maintain clarity and relevance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

too tight to call

This alternative uses "tight" to emphasize the closeness of the competition.

a dead heat

Used when competitors finish at exactly the same time or with the same score.

neck and neck

This alternative describes a situation where competitors are running even, implying a close contest.

could go either way

Emphasizes the equal likelihood of two possible outcomes.

a toss-up

Implies an outcome that is completely uncertain and could go either way.

up in the air

Indicates that the final decision or result is still pending and unclear.

anyone's game

Suggests that any participant has a reasonable chance of winning.

difficult to predict

Highlights the challenge in forecasting the final result.

the outcome is uncertain

States directly that the result cannot be predicted with confidence.

inconclusive

Implies that the available information is not sufficient to determine the result.

FAQs

How can I use "too close to call" in a sentence?

You can use "too close to call" to describe situations where the outcome is uncertain. For example, "The election results are "too close to call", with both candidates neck and neck".

What does it mean when something is "too close to call"?

It means that the outcome is so uncertain that it's impossible to predict the winner or final result. It suggests a very tight competition or situation where the margins are extremely small.

What can I say instead of "too close to call"?

You can use alternatives like "neck and neck", "a toss-up", or "too tight to call" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "too close to call" in formal writing?

Yes, "too close to call" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in news reporting, political analysis, and business contexts where uncertainty needs to be conveyed professionally. It maintains a neutral tone and is easily understood.