Football / Ice hockey results and scores: How to write and talk

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EagerSeeker  #527782  Sun, 15 Jun 08 06:32 PM
Hi,

I have been thinking lately how to talk and write about sport results or the score of a game.
Here is how I have figured it out, what do you think?

England is leading/is losing/lost/won (by three to one / 3 - 1)
England is leading/is losing/lost/won (by three goals to one / 3 - 1)
England is leading/is losing/lost/won (by one goal to zero/nil / 3 - 0)
England is leading/is losing/lost/won (two nil/zero / two to nil/zero / 2 - 0)   

The match/game/score is now even 3-3 (three three / three to three) in the second half (football).
The match/game/score is now even 3-3 in the third period (ice hockey).


Thanks
  
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optilang  #527789  Sun, 15 Jun 08 06:55 PM
This is how I would say them 

England is leading/is losing/lost/won (by three to one / 3 - 1)  - England are leading/losing/lost/won three one.

England is leading/is losing/lost/won (by three goals to one / 3 - 1) - OK

England is leading/is losing/lost/won (by one goal to zero/nil / 3 - 0) - by three goals to nil/ England are losing/lost won three nil.

England is leading/is losing/lost/won (two nil/zero / two to nil/zero / 2 - 0) two nil     or by two goals to nil.

The match/game/score is now even 3-3 (three three / three to three) in the second half (football). The result is a draw . Three three draw, nil nil draw
The match/game/score is now even 3-3 in the third period (ice hockey).

 

  
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Old Man Gordon  #527798  Sun, 15 Jun 08 07:28 PM

Optilang-

Is that how it is said on sportscasts in England?  The team uses a plural verb, even if the noun (England/Manchester United/etc.) is singular?  In the US, we'd use the plural only when talking about the team name which is usually plural, eg The Yakees are losing./ New York is losing.

It gets confusing with the modern innovation of uncountable team names.  The Detroit Shock is winning (are winning?).

  
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optilang  #527802  Sun, 15 Jun 08 07:45 PM
I've always known it as

Man Utd are

Chelsea  have

England are 

 "It's only twelve inches high, solid gold, and it means that England are the world champions!" -  Kenneth Wolstenholme, BBC Commentator, describing the moment the England team were presented with the World Cup at Wembley in 1966.

 

  
EagerSeeker  #527815  Sun, 15 Jun 08 09:04 PM
Old Man Gordon

Optilang-

Is that how it is said on sportscasts in England?  The team uses a plural verb, even if the noun (England/Manchester United/etc.) is singular?  In the US, we'd use the plural only when talking about the team name which is usually plural, eg The Yakees are losing./ New York is losing.

It gets confusing with the modern innovation of uncountable team names.  The Detroit Shock is winning (are winning?).

That is interesting indeed and I agree with you Old Man Gordon. I am from Finland and according to my Finnish-English dictionary I should say "Finland is leading 2-0" without using the plural verb and
"The Finns are leading 2-0" when using a plural expression. But I guess this is just a difference between British and American English.

  
optilang  #527816  Sun, 15 Jun 08 09:13 PM
 That is interesting indeed and I agree with you Old Man Gordon. I am from Finland and according to my Finnish-English dictionary I should say "Finland is leading 2-0" without using the plural verb and
"The Finns are leading 2-0" when using a plural expression. But I guess this is just a difference between British and American English.

I guess so.  I am not from America or Finland.

  
EagerSeeker  #528367  Mon, 16 Jun 08 10:32 PM
optilang
This is how I would say them 

England is leading/is losing/lost/won (by three to one / 3 - 1)  - England are leading/losing/lost/won three one.

England is leading/is losing/lost/won (by three goals to one / 3 - 1) - OK

England is leading/is losing/lost/won (by one goal to zero/nil / 3 - 0) - by three goals to nil/ England are losing/lost won three nil.

England is leading/is losing/lost/won (two nil/zero / two to nil/zero / 2 - 0) two nil     or by two goals to nil.

The match/game/score is now even 3-3 (three three / three to three) in the second half (football). The result is a draw . Three three draw, nil nil draw
The match/game/score is now even 3-3 in the third period (ice hockey).



Thanks for suggestions. (:)) Smile

My English-Finnish dictionary has an example of using the verb "win" and according to it I can say "win by three to one". 
Any thoughts? I think it would be ok since it is just a shortened version without the word "goals"
The Oxford Advanced Learner's dictionary mentions that the word "zero" is synonym of "nil" so maybe I can also say "two zero"?

And what about if I'll add the preposition "at" as follows?
The match/game/score is now even at 3-3

  
  
Old Man Gordon  #528393  Tue, 17 Jun 08 01:31 AM

It seems that we will find a lot of differences between the Queen's English and American English in this category.

I would say "won three to one" or "won by a score of 3 to 1", not  "won by 3 to 1."

even at/ tied at...the at is OK, but not necessary.  e.g.  The score is tied, 3 to 3 (also, three three; three up, three all).  Strangely, I don't know why we say 'up'; maybe it's from 'tied up'.

 

 

  
Yoong Liat  #531359  Mon, 23 Jun 08 12:25 PM

In BrE, one can use the singular or plural when referring to a team. It can England are leading OR England is leading. In AmE, the singular is used. This is another case of BrE vs AmE.

 

  
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