won success

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "won success" is not correct and is not commonly used in written English.
It is typically intended to convey achieving or attaining success, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "After years of hard work, she finally won success in her career."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Love must be won, success earned.

The New Yorker

He has won success on his own terms.

The New York Times

But if Trump has won success by being an opinionated firebrand, Marco Rubio has taken the opposite tack.

The New Yorker

The formula which has won success in the past three elections - investment in public services vs overall tax cuts - will be deployed once more.

The Guardian - Opinion

Meanwhile, in 1914, he had begun publishing fiction and had won success with stories featuring the character Jack Keefe, a comic baseball player, some of which were collected in You Know Me Al (1916).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Though he wrote little in the early 1860s, he won success with his Symphonie espagnole for violin and orchestra, first performed by Pablo Sarasate in 1875; for his cello concerto (1876); and for his ballet Namouna (1882).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

He first rose to military prominence in India, won successes in the Peninsular War in Spain (1808 14), and shared in the victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo (1815).

Encyclopedia Britannica

"You said it symbolized winning, success, being on top".

The New Yorker

Ullman, who enjoyed Emmy-winning success after launching a new career in Los Angeles, stars in a new BBC1 sketch show, her first home-grown series in almost three decades.

Independent

Twenty years ago, Schindler's List was released in cinemas, soon winning success and numerous accolades as one of the most powerful American films of the 20th century.

The Guardian

Spall will surely be among the front runners for the festival's Best Actor award and Leigh himself must stand a chance of emulating the Palme D'Or winning success he enjoyed in Cannes with Secrets And Lies in 1996.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer more standard phrases like "achieved success", "attained success", or "gained success" for clarity and grammatical correctness. Using established collocations will improve your writing's professionalism and readability.

Common error

Don't rely on the phrase "won success". While understandable, it sounds unnatural to native English speakers. Instead, opt for stronger, more common alternatives like "achieved success" or "attained success" to express the idea of gaining or reaching success.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "won success" functions as a verb-noun construction, attempting to describe the act of gaining success. However, as indicated by Ludwig AI, this phrasing is not considered standard or grammatically correct in English. While examples exist, they highlight the need for more appropriate alternatives.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Encyclopedias

23%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Science

14%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "won success" appears in a number of sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as not grammatically correct or standard English. The phrase attempts to convey the idea of achieving success. Better alternatives are "achieved success", "attained success", or "gained success". These options provide clearer and more grammatically sound ways to express the attainment of success. Therefore, writers should opt for these alternatives to improve the clarity and professionalism of their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

achieved success

This alternative replaces "won" with "achieved", offering a more standard and grammatically sound way to describe attaining success.

attained success

Similar to "achieved success", this uses "attained" which also implies reaching a certain level of accomplishment.

gained success

This alternative uses "gained", suggesting that success was acquired or obtained over time.

earned success

This option emphasizes that the success was obtained through effort and hard work.

obtained success

Replacing "won" with "obtained" suggests a more formal and deliberate acquisition of success.

found success

Using "found" implies that success was discovered or encountered, rather than actively won.

enjoyed success

This alternative shifts the focus to the experience of success, suggesting a positive outcome.

achieved a breakthrough

Focuses on a significant advancement or discovery that leads to success, differing from general success.

attained a milestone

This alternative emphasizes reaching a significant point or achievement along the path to success, not necessarily overall success.

became successful

This version rephrases the idea to focus on the state of being successful, rather than the act of winning it.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "won success"?

Instead of "won success", you can use phrases such as "achieved success", "attained success", or "gained success". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is "won success" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "won success" is not considered grammatically correct or idiomatic in standard English. More common and accepted alternatives include "achieved success" or "attained success".

How can I use "achieved success" in a sentence?

You can use "achieved success" in sentences like: "After years of hard work, she "achieved success" in her field", or "The company "achieved success" through innovation and strategic planning".

What's the difference between "won success" and "achieved success"?

"Won success" is less common and grammatically awkward. "Achieved success" is a more standard and widely accepted phrase, implying that success was attained through effort or skill. Therefore, ""achieved success"" is the preferred choice.