A few days ago
Michael G

In sports, why is “a team is within 5 games of 1st place” used instead of “a team is 5 games out of 1st?”

“Within” denotes a range. A team that’s 3 games out of 1st place is also “within” 5 games of 1st place, but saying a team is “3 games out of 1st place” means they’re exactly 3 games out. Why don’t sportswriters say what they mean?

Top 3 Answers
A few days ago
dmxdragon2

Favorite Answer

It is a way to make things seem more positive
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A few days ago
embroidery fan
The wording you have is awkward, for some reason. “Within 5 games of first place” means that if they win 5 games, they will be in first place.

To be 5 games out of first, suggests something like: first place has sections in it. In the first section of first place is team A, in the second section of first is team R…and this team is 5 games out of first. It’s a concept we don’t use in sports, at all, to my knowledge.

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A few days ago
GoingNoWhereFast
it depends on whether you see the glass half full or half empty
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