two times out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "two times out" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in specific contexts, such as sports or games, to indicate a situation where a player or team has been out twice. Example: "After two times out, the player had to sit on the bench for the remainder of the game."

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

(Apparently telling the party house to keep it down the first two times out didn't stick).

Los Angeles Times

My first two times out were at once easy and humbling.

Huffington Post

The Jazz own the tiebreaker after beating the Lakers two times out of three this season.

The New York Times - Sports

Charlie Calvert's set design is on target two times out of three.

The New York Times

But those who received an above-average number reacted defensively almost two times out of three.

Harvard Business Review

"The last two times out he's had really good stuff," Manager JOE TORRE said.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Ten times out of 10.

The New York Times

Nine times out of 10, he does.

The New York Times

(Well, nine times out of ten).

The New Yorker

Nine times out of 10 there was.

The Guardian - Sport

"Ten times out of ten, it will go in".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "two times out", ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject is 'out' of, such as a game, a competition, or a process. Clarity prevents misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "two times out" in contexts where it's not clear what the subject is 'out' of. Always provide enough information to ensure the reader understands the reference. If the meaning is unclear, replace with a more specific phrase like "twice dismissed" or "absent on two occasions".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "two times out" functions as an adverbial phrase indicating frequency or occurrence. It specifies how many times an event has happened. As Ludwig notes, its acceptability depends on the clarity of the surrounding context. It can modify a verb, specifying the number of times an action occurred, as shown in the examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "two times out" is a commonly used expression to indicate something has happened on two separate occasions. Ludwig's analysis confirms its acceptability, although it leans towards a neutral register and may benefit from more formal alternatives like "on two occasions" in certain contexts. It's important to ensure clarity by providing sufficient contextual information to avoid ambiguity about what is being referred to as "out". While suitable for general communication, consider the audience and setting to determine the most appropriate wording. Overall, using this phrase correctly can effectively communicate frequency, especially in sports or general discussions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

twice out

A more concise and direct way of saying "two times out".

two separate times

Adds emphasis on the separation between the two occurrences.

on two instances

Replaces the longer "times out" with the shorter word "instances".

on two occasions

Replaces "times out" with a more formal expression for "occasions".

in two instances

Substitutes "times out" with "instances", emphasizing specific occurrences.

on two different occasions

Combines formality with emphasis on the distinction between occurrences.

in a couple of instances

Uses "couple" to denote two, making it slightly less formal.

in a couple of instances

Employs "couple" to represent two, making it less formal.

on a pair of occasions

Uses "pair" for two, adding a touch of formality.

in a pair of cases

Uses "pair of cases" as a more specific alternative.

FAQs

What does "two times out" mean?

The phrase "two times out" generally means something has occurred or someone has been in a certain state on two separate occasions. The exact meaning can vary depending on the context. For example, in baseball it means a player has been called "out" twice during a game.

What are some alternatives to "two times out"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "twice out", "on two occasions", or "in two instances".

Is it grammatically correct to say "two times out"?

Yes, the phrase "two times out" is grammatically acceptable, although it's relatively informal. More formal options might include "on two occasions" or "in two instances".

How can I use "two times out" in a sentence?

Here's an example: "The batter was "two times out" during the game, impacting the team's performance."