within two points

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "within two points" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a range or limit that is confined to two specific points, often in contexts like measurements, scores, or comparisons. Example: "The final score of the game was very close, with the teams finishing within two points of each other."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

A Champions League place came within two points.

The Guardian - Sport

The win brings Everton to within two points of sixth-placed Hull City.

The Guardian - Sport

He came within two points of taking the second set against Moya.

The New York Times - Sports

53min Lamaison's two drop-goals and two penalties haul France back to within two points.

The Guardian - Sport

James Harden scored 24 for Houston, which got within two points midway through the fourth quarter.

The Guardian - Sport

Finn converted and the Wildcats were within two points of levelling matters.

The Guardian - Sport

The Flyers moved within two points of Eastern Conference-leading New Jersey.

The New York Times - Sports

The victory moved Northampton to within two points of the Premiership play-off positions.

Independent

The S.& P. 500 again came within two points of hitting 1,150.

The New York Times

The victory moved the Flyers within two points of fourth-place Pittsburgh in the Eastern Conference.

The New York Times - Sports

Kevin Sinfield's conversion brought them to within two points and the lift the score gave Britain was visible.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing competitive situations in sports or business, use "within two points" to create a sense of suspense and highlight the closeness of the competition. For example: "The underdog team was within two points of victory in the final seconds".

Common error

Avoid using "within two points" when the scale is large and two points represent an insignificant difference. For example, it's less impactful to say "the company's revenue was within two points of their projected goal" if the revenue numbers are in the millions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "within two points" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase, indicating proximity or closeness in numerical terms. This is supported by Ludwig, as it’s widely used to describe how near one value is to another.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "within two points" is a common and grammatically sound prepositional phrase primarily used to indicate a narrow numerical gap or proximity. As highlighted by Ludwig, it is most frequently found in news and media contexts, typically to describe close scores in sports or slight differences in other measurable quantities. While versatile, avoid its use when the scale is vast, rendering the two-point difference insignificant. Alternatives such as "nearly reached" or "just shy of" may be more appropriate in certain contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just shy of

Emphasizes the slight shortfall from a specific value or target.

close to achieving

This highlights the nearness to a goal, emphasizing the possibility of success.

virtually equal to

Emphasizes the near equivalence of two values, suitable for statistical contexts.

within striking distance of

Implies that an entity is close enough to another to potentially surpass or affect it.

nearly reached

This phrase suggests approaching a target but not quite achieving it, focusing on the attempt.

not far from

A more general phrase indicating a lack of significant distance between two points or values.

almost at the level of

Focuses on comparing one entity's performance to another's desired standard.

a hair's breadth away from

This idiom is stronger, indicating extreme closeness to achieving a goal, often with a dramatic effect.

in close proximity to

Highlights the physical or metaphorical closeness, changing the focus from scores.

on the verge of

Focuses on impending achievement or change, suitable when discussing potential future outcomes.

FAQs

How can I use "within two points" in a sentence?

You can use "within two points" to describe a situation where something is very close to achieving a goal or matching another value. For example, "The team was "within two points" of winning the championship".

What are some alternatives to saying "within two points"?

Alternatives include "nearly reached", "close to achieving", or "just shy of", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "within 2 points" instead of "within two points"?

Yes, both are generally acceptable. Using the numeral "2" is common in more technical or statistical contexts, while spelling out "two" is more common in general writing. The meaning remains the same.

What does it mean when something is "within two points"?

It means that the difference between two values is no more than two units. It indicates a very small margin or gap, suggesting the items being compared are almost equal or have nearly reached the same level.