took third place

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'took third place' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the outcome of a competition or contest, in which the subject placed third. For example, "In the basketball tournament, the team took third place."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

MIT took third place.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

South Korea took third place.

The Washington Post

Spain took third place by beating Chile.

The New York Times - Sports

Norway took third place with 19 points.

The Guardian - Sport

The Stanford Graduate School of Business took third place.

University of California, Berkeley

Thyssen, West Germany's largest steel producer took third place.

The New York Times

Canada's Melanie Turgeon took third place in 1 44.08.

The New York Times - Sports

Computer science graduate student Chris Cleveland took third place in the technology challenge for Pixm.

Columbia University

Scotland took third place, its best since 2006, on point differential.

The New York Times - Sports

Cummins, the engine maker, took third place with a 140 percent gain.

The New York Times

The Netherlands took third place, as Brazil faltered again in disarray, conceding three goals.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing for a broad audience, consider alternatives like "placed third" or "came in third" for a simpler expression.

Common error

Avoid using "took third place" in contexts where the ranking or competition isn't clear. Always provide sufficient information to ensure the reader understands what is being measured or evaluated. For example, specify "took third place in the regional championships" rather than just "took third place".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "took third place" functions as a verb phrase indicating the achievement of a specific ranking in a competition or evaluation. It is commonly used to report results, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

22%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Science

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "took third place" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that indicates the achievement of the third position in a competition or ranking. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and frequent use across various contexts, including News & Media and Academia. While generally neutral in tone, more formal alternatives can be used in specific contexts. Remember to clearly define the context of the competition or ranking when using this phrase to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

placed third

A simpler and more direct way to express the result.

finished in third position

Rephrases the achievement using "finished" instead of "took" and "position" instead of "place".

secured third place

Emphasizes the act of obtaining third place through effort or competition.

achieved third position

Highlights the accomplishment of reaching the third position.

came in third

A more informal and concise way of saying "took third place".

ranked third

Focuses on the ranking aspect of the achievement.

earned the third spot

Highlights the effort required to achieve the third position.

obtained third ranking

Emphasizes the acquisition of the third rank.

was awarded third place

Focuses on the awarding of the third-place position, often in formal settings.

ended up in third position

Indicates the final result after a series of events or a competition.

FAQs

What does it mean to say someone "took third place"?

It means that someone finished in the third position in a competition, ranking, or other form of evaluation.

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

Both "took third place" and "placed third" are correct and can be used interchangeably, although the latter is more concise.

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

You can use alternatives like "finished third", "came in third", or "secured third place" depending on the context.

Is "took third place" formal or informal language?

"Took third place" is generally considered neutral and acceptable in both formal and informal contexts, but more formal alternatives like "achieved third position" might be preferred in highly formal writing.