top score

USAGE SUMMARY

"top score" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in a sentence when you're referring to a high score or the best score achieved in a game, exam, or other competitive scenario. For example: "John received the top score on the final exam."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

(The top score is 850).

The New York Times

The economy is always the top score.

The Guardian

It was enough for the top score of the day.

The New York Times - Sports

That was the top score for North-South.

The New York Times - Arts

Plus 150 was the top score for North-South.

The New York Times

Making seven hearts was far from the top score.

The New York Times - Arts

The top score on the exam is 800.

The New York Times

Enraptured myself, I gave her the top score, a 10.

The New York Times

This was by no means a top score for East-West.

The New York Times - Arts

That seems a recipe for disaster, but you emerge with a top score.

The New York Times - Arts

But if he played the ten, he made 11 tricks for a top score.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "top score" when you want to clearly and concisely refer to the highest result in a competition, test, or other measurable activity.

Common error

Avoid using "top score" when referring to subjective assessments or qualitative evaluations where a numerical score isn't the primary measure of success.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "top score" functions as a noun phrase, where "top" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "score". Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in various contexts to denote the highest achievement. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

22%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "top score" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote the highest result achieved in a competition, test, or measurable activity. Ludwig's examples show its versatility across contexts like news, science, and general discussions. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usability. When aiming for precision, remember that "top score" specifically indicates the single highest achievement, differentiating it from general "high scores". By grasping its function and purpose, you can confidently incorporate "top score" into your writing to clearly communicate exceptional performance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

highest mark

Focuses on the educational aspect, referring to the highest grade achieved.

peak performance

Emphasizes the highest level of skill or efficiency in a performance.

best result

Highlights the most favorable outcome attained.

leading score

Implies that the score is currently in the first position.

highest grade

Specifically refers to the best grade in an academic setting.

maximum points

Highlights that the score achieved is the maximum available.

gold standard

Suggests a level of excellence that serves as a benchmark.

benchmark performance

Implies a standard of excellence that is used as the point of comparison.

record breaking

Focuses on exceeding a previously established performance.

winning score

Indicates the score that secured a victory.

FAQs

How can I use "top score" in a sentence?

You can use "top score" to describe the highest achievement in a quantifiable metric. For example, "She achieved the "top score" on the exam" or "His "top score" in the game was 1000 points".

What's an alternative to "top score" that I can use?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "highest mark", "peak performance", or "best result".

Is it correct to say "the top score is higher than expected"?

Yes, the sentence "The "top score" is higher than expected" is grammatically correct and commonly used to express that the highest result achieved was greater than anticipated.

How does "top score" differ from "high score"?

"Top score" specifically refers to the single highest score achieved, whereas "high score" can refer to any score that is above average or considered good, but not necessarily the absolute highest.