without any players

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "without any players" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate the absence of players in a game, event, or situation. Example: "The game was scheduled to start, but it began without any players present."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The 2015 World Cup without any players?

Independent

"There are a number of countries where basketball is extremely popular without any players in the league," Ueberroth said.

The New York Times - Sports

During that tournament, also played in the United States, the North Koreans once held a news conference without any players or coaches.

The New York Times - Sports

"When was the last time Holland played an international fixture without any players with 'van' in their name on the pitch or substitutes' bench?" wonders Johnny Worthington.

The Guardian - Sport

Yes, its three playoff games transpired without any players being hospitalized (after all, Gary Bettman wants us to think positively!! :) ), but the matter of how punitive a suspension the league will hand Phoenix head-hunter Raffi Torres for his brutal hit on Chicago's MarianHossa still hangs in the air.

The New York Times - Sports

They were the first team since Utah in 1997 to reach the Finals without any players with championship-round experience.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

This must be done without any player catching or holding the ball while it is in play and without any player touching the net or entering the opponents' court area.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For thousands more questions and answers take a trip through the Knowledge archive "In two recent games in the Eredivisie (SC Heerenveen v NAC and Heracles Almelo v ADO Den Haag, for those of you taking notes) eight yellow cards were given in a single game without any player being sent off (either by a second yellow or a straight red)," writes Willem van Schaik.

The Guardian - Sport

"That made me wonder about the following question: what is the highest number of yellow cards in a game without any player receiving a red card?" "This article in the Northern Echo mentions that Middlesbrough have been drawn away on 13 successive occasions in the League Cup.

The Guardian - Sport

"We made a very good performance in my third year because without signing any players we finished fourth and reached the Champions League and for this Roman Abramovich bought the team".

Independent

Without naming any players or providing many details of the tournament, the American narrator concluded in a weary tone of voice: "Finally, the hockey series was won -- as it has been every time but once -- by Canada".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "without any players" to clearly indicate the absence of players in sports, games, or other competitive scenarios. It's direct and easily understood.

Common error

While "without any players" is generally acceptable, consider more formal alternatives like "in the absence of players" or "devoid of players" for academic or professional writing to maintain a sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "without any players" functions as a prepositional phrase. Ludwig AI examples showcase its use to describe situations where players are absent, functioning adjectivally to modify a noun or clause.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "without any players" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase to indicate the absence of players in various scenarios. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage is straightforward and widely understood, making it suitable for both neutral and slightly informal contexts. While other alternatives like "lacking players" or "devoid of players" exist, "without any players" remains a clear and direct way to convey the lack of players. When aiming for more formal academic writing, consider using "in the absence of players".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without a single player

Adds emphasis on the complete absence, using "a single player".

lacking any players

Substitutes "without" with "lacking", highlighting the deficiency of players.

with no players at all

Emphasizes the absence of players by adding "at all".

no players present

Restructures the phrase to focus on the absence of players being present.

not having any players

Changes the structure to a gerund phrase, emphasizing the lack of possession.

absent of all players

Replaces "without" with "absent of", emphasizing the lack of players.

in the absence of players

Rephrases the sentence to focus on "absence" as a state.

devoid of players

Uses "devoid of" to indicate a complete absence of players, adding a stronger emphasis.

without the presence of players

More formal and descriptive, emphasizing the non-existence of players.

playerless

Uses a single adjective to describe the condition of having no players.

FAQs

How can I use "without any players" in a sentence?

You can use "without any players" to describe a situation where there are no players involved, such as "The field was empty, "without any players" in sight".

What are some alternatives to saying "without any players"?

Alternatives include "lacking players", "devoid of players", or "no players present", depending on the desired tone and context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "without any players"?

Yes, "without any players" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to indicate the absence of players.

What's the difference between "without players" and "without any players"?

"Without players" implies a general lack of players, while ""without any players"" emphasizes a complete absence, suggesting that not even a single player is present.