zero marks

USAGE SUMMARY

"zero marks" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to talk about a score on a test or exam, or to mean "no marks at all". For example: "The student got zero marks on the exam."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Scott Thompson kept Jack Riewoldt to zero marks, and North Melbourne ran home crushing winners.

The Guardian - Sport

(Lady Scatcherd's blanket has lasted well, I must say. Top marks for knitting. Zero marks for producing decent offspring).

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"It varies from uni to uni, but a late hand-in can mean anything from getting 10% knocked off your work to getting zero marks, depending on how late it is".

The Guardian

"It varies from uni to uni, but a late hand-in can mean anything from getting 10% knocked off your work to getting zero marks, depending on how late it is". But tutors recognise that first year is tough, says Thomas Joyce, professor of orthopaedic engineering at Newcastle University.

The Guardian

If you leave it blank or tick two or more boxes you will get zero marks.

BBC

The letter "C" means the Corbel and 0 (zero) marks the state without strengthening.

Applied Adhesion Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

His handling success rate was around the zero mark.

The Guardian - Sport

I'm hovering around the zero mark, personally.

TechCrunch

**p < 0.01 compared with the zero mark-up group.

BMC Health Services Research

Draw two marks, one on each side of your zero.

WikiHow

All three marks were broken by Jim Brown.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing academic performance, use "zero marks" to clearly indicate a complete lack of achievement on a specific assessment. It avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "zero marks" interchangeably with phrases like "did not attempt" or "incomplete". "Zero marks" specifically indicates that the attempt was made, but no credit was awarded, while "did not attempt" means no effort was made.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "zero marks" primarily functions as a noun phrase indicating a numerical score or evaluation result. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. The phrase clearly describes the absence of points or credit in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "zero marks" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to denote the absence of points or credit in an assessment or evaluation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. Predominantly found in news, science, and wiki contexts, it serves to clearly and directly communicate a specific, typically negative, outcome. Related phrases such as "no credit" or "no points" offer similar meanings, and understanding the appropriate context ensures effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

no credit

Focuses on the absence of credit given.

no points

Emphasizes the absence of points in a scoring system.

no score

Highlights the lack of a score or result.

null score

Uses "null" to indicate an invalid or absent score.

void marks

Uses "void" to mean invalid or nullified marks.

absence of marks

Formally states the absence of any marks.

no grade

Focuses on the absence of a grade in an academic context.

failing grade

Indicates a grade below the passing threshold.

origin point

Refers to the starting or reference point, particularly in mathematical contexts.

starting point

Emphasizes the initial position or beginning.

FAQs

How is "zero marks" used in academic context?

In academic settings, "zero marks" indicates a score of zero on an assignment, test, or exam. It means the student attempted the work but received no credit. For example, "The student received "zero marks" on the final exam".

What does it mean to get "zero marks"?

Getting "zero marks" means receiving no points or credit for an assessment. This can happen for various reasons, such as incorrect answers, blank submissions, or failure to meet the assessment criteria.

What can I say instead of "zero marks"?

Alternatives include "no credit", "no points", or a "failing grade", depending on the context.

Is it better to leave an answer blank or guess and risk getting "zero marks"?

Leaving an answer blank guarantees "zero marks". However, making an educated guess offers a chance, however small, of earning some credit. As a general rule, guessing is preferable unless there is a penalty for incorrect answers.