top stories

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "top stories" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to the most important or popular news articles or reports at a given time. Example: "In today's news, we will cover the top stories from around the world, including politics, sports, and entertainment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

TOP STORIES The new Top Stories feature, on the other hand, isn't nearly as successful.

The New York Times - Tech

The top stories of an unfinished apt.

The New Yorker

"Top stories," it began, "xxx".

The Guardian - Business

What are the "top stories" or "headlines"?

The New York Times

TOP STORIES: Some genres have already been replaced.

The New York Times - Magazine

The squash-toned top stories are paired with a henna one below.

The New York Times

New Feed changes — You no longer have to toggle between Top Stories and Recent Stories.

The New York Times

Facebook fanatics object to the Top Stories scheme on several grounds.

The New York Times - Tech

Once they select their top stories, they will write a Flocabulary-style rap to summarize those stories.

The New York Times

The L-shaped building is six stories tall, with glass walls in the top stories.

The New York Times

Top stories on newyorker.com, including Harlem's king of fried chicken, reasons to walk, and a remembrance of Joan Rivers.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider your audience: while "top stories" is widely understood, using more specific language (e.g., "leading business news") can improve clarity and precision.

Common error

Avoid using "top stories" as a vague header without providing specific content. Always ensure the section genuinely contains the most important or popular news items.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "top stories" primarily functions as a noun phrase. It is used to identify the most important or popular news items at a given time. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, aligning with common usage in news and other media.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "top stories" is a grammatically sound and very common noun phrase used to highlight the most important news items. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's frequently found in news and media contexts, serving to inform audiences about significant events. While generally neutral in register, it's crucial to ensure content aligns with the promise of delivering truly 'top' information. Alternatives like "leading news" or "headline news" can provide nuanced variations in meaning. Avoiding overuse as a generic placeholder is a best practice, ensuring clarity and relevance in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

leading news

Focuses on the 'leading' aspect, emphasizing importance.

headline news

Highlights the 'headline' nature, suggesting prominence.

main events

Shifts the focus to 'events', implying significance.

major developments

Emphasizes 'developments', suggesting important changes.

key highlights

Focuses on 'highlights', indicating the most important points.

principal updates

Highlights 'updates', suggesting the latest information.

significant reports

Emphasizes the 'reports' themselves, implying importance.

noteworthy incidents

Focuses on 'incidents', which are worthy of note.

essential information

Highlights the 'essential' nature, focusing on the most critical.

important announcements

Focuses on 'announcements', implying timely and significant updates.

FAQs

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

You can use "top stories" to introduce the most important news of a particular time period, like "The website features the "top stories" of the day" or "Let's review the "top stories" from this week's tech news".

What are some alternatives to "top stories"?

Consider using alternatives such as "leading news", "headline news", or "main events" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "the top story" instead of "top stories"?

Yes, "the top story" is correct when referring to the single most important news item. "Top stories" is used when referring to multiple important news items.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the phrase "top stories"?

The phrase "top stories" is suitable in various contexts, including news reports, website homepages, social media feeds, and summaries of important events. It's commonly used in "news and media", but can also apply to science, business, or any field where important updates need to be highlighted.