a big leap

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a big leap' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a significant transformation or progress. For example, "The improvements in medicine over the past century have been a big leap forward."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's a big leap.

The New York Times

That requires a big leap of faith.

The Economist

This is a big leap to take.

The New York Times

The third movement took a big leap.

The New York Times

It was a big leap.

The Guardian - Travel

It's a big leap of faith.

University of California, Berkeley

That's a big leap for most people.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

That's a big leap in four years.

The Times

"That's a big leap," he says.

MIT Technology Review

There is a big leap of faith.

The Guardian - Business

Isn't this rather a big leap?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a big leap" to emphasize significant progress or a major change, particularly when describing advancements in technology, research, or personal development.

Common error

Avoid using "a big leap" for minor adjustments or incremental improvements. Reserve it for situations where the change is substantial and transformative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a big leap" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as a subject complement or object of a verb, describing a significant advancement or transformation. Ludwig's AI insights show this phrase is indeed a correct and common way to express substantial progress.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Academia

25%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a big leap" is a commonly used and grammatically sound phrase that effectively communicates significant progress or a major change. As supported by Ludwig's analysis, this phrase spans various contexts, from academic and scientific domains to news and media. When using "a big leap", ensure that it reflects a genuinely substantial advancement and not a minor adjustment. Remember to consider alternatives such as "a significant jump" or "a major advancement" to fine-tune your message. Therefore, consider the scale of change and choose your words accordingly for impactful communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant jump

Replaces "leap" with "jump", maintaining the sense of a notable change but with a slightly less formal tone.

a major advancement

Substitutes "leap" with "advancement", highlighting progress and improvement.

a considerable stride

Uses "stride" instead of "leap", suggesting a confident and purposeful step forward.

a giant step

Emphasizes the scale of the change using "giant" instead of "big".

a quantum leap

Implies a sudden and dramatic change, borrowing from physics terminology.

a breakthrough

Focuses on the idea of overcoming an obstacle or making a significant discovery.

a marked improvement

Highlights the positive change and progress achieved.

a sea change

Suggests a fundamental and widespread transformation.

a step change

Implies a discrete and measurable improvement.

a paradigm shift

Indicates a fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions.

FAQs

How can I use "a big leap" in a sentence?

You can use "a big leap" to describe significant advancements or changes. For example, "The new technology represents "a big leap" forward in medical treatment".

What are some alternatives to "a big leap"?

You can use alternatives like "a significant jump", "a major advancement", or "a considerable stride" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "a big leap"?

It's appropriate when referring to a considerable change or advancement that significantly alters the current state. Using the term requires that the change actually reflects "a marked improvement".

Is there a difference between "a big leap" and "a small step"?

"A big leap" implies a major change, while "a small step" suggests incremental progress. They represent opposite ends of a spectrum of change, the term choice reflecting the magnitude of the progress described.