won an election

USAGE SUMMARY

"won an election" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a candidate winning a political election, such as in the sentence "John Smith won an election for mayor of the city last month".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Hitler won an election.

Independent

They have not won an election outright for two decades.

Independent

The Pheu Thai party won an election in Thailand.

The Economist

In 1978, he might narrowly have won an election.

The Economist

HE HAS not won an election in almost 20 years.

The Economist

He has just won an election," she said.

The Guardian

Theresa May has never won an election as prime minister.

The Guardian - Opinion

If a union won an election at Princeton, would graduate student "employees" have to join it?

Princeton University

But the Tories won an election during a downturn in 1992.

The Economist

In the ealy 1990s, Islamist parties won an election in Algeria.

Independent

In 2004 Ulises Ruiz, the PRI candidate, only narrowly won an election for state governor.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing elections, be specific about the type of election (e.g., general election, by-election, presidential election) to provide clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "win the election" when referring to a specific person's victory. Use "won an election" or "won the election" when discussing the overall event, but specify the candidate when appropriate (e.g., 'John Smith won the election').

Linguistic Context

The phrase "won an election" functions as a verb phrase within a clause, typically serving as the predicate. It describes the action of successfully winning an electoral contest. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is grammatically sound and readily usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "won an election" is a grammatically correct and very commonly used phrase that describes the act of achieving victory in an election. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's readily usable in written English. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media sources, with neutral formality. When using the phrase, remember to be specific about the type of election you are discussing and to avoid confusing it with similar phrases. Alternatives include "secured a victory in the election" or "was elected" for different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

secured a victory in the election

Focuses on the act of securing the victory, highlighting the achievement.

triumphed in the election

Emphasizes the success and overcoming of challenges in the election.

prevailed in the election

Suggests overcoming opposition or difficulty to win the election.

was elected

A more concise way of stating that someone won an election, focusing on the result.

clinched the election

Implies a decisive victory, often suggesting a hard-fought contest.

emerged victorious in the election

Highlights the outcome of the election, framing the winner as emerging from a contest.

carried the election

Suggests a strong performance that led to winning the election, implying influence.

achieved electoral success

A more formal way of stating that someone won an election, focusing on the achievement.

scored an electoral win

Similar to 'won an election' but uses the term 'scored' to suggest gaining points or advantages.

gained a mandate

Focuses on the authority and approval gained by winning an election.

FAQs

What's a more formal way to say "won an election"?

You can use phrases like "achieved electoral success" or "secured a victory in the election" in more formal contexts.

How can I use "won an election" in a sentence?

You can use "won an election" to describe someone's victory in an election, such as "The candidate "won an election" with a large majority."

Which is correct, "won an election" or "win an election"?

"Won an election" is the past tense form, used to describe an election that has already happened. "Win an election" is the present tense form, used to talk about the possibility of winning an election in the future.

What's the difference between "was elected" and "won an election"?

"Was elected" focuses on the outcome of the election, while ""won an election"" emphasizes the act of winning or achieving victory.