a breakthrough towards

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a breakthrough towards" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing progress or advancements in a particular area or field, indicating movement in a positive direction. Example: "The researchers announced a breakthrough towards finding a cure for the disease."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Now a group of US scientists say they have made a breakthrough towards creating such a machine.

The Guardian

It reviles its secular rival, Fatah, for its supposed treachery in accepting the Jewish state and the principle of Palestine's partition.But Hamas is probably indispensable if there is to be a breakthrough towards negotiation.

The Economist

By June 2nd, NATO was describing the fighting as inconclusive.If there is a breakthrough towards peace, the KLA will in any case become increasingly awkward for the West, as well as the Serbs, to handle.

The Economist

He said a breakthrough towards a UN deal on climate change had been on the cards since November 2014 when Obama and Xi jointly announced a secretly negotiated agreement to slash greenhouse gas emissions.

The Guardian

This innovation is a breakthrough towards greater transparency in the promotion of equity, and is also bound to benefit the national economy, as well as social inclusiveness and cohesion".

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

If it worked, it would be a huge breakthrough towards a stable, federal Iraq.

The Economist

A major breakthrough towards a targeted therapy of HCC was the discovery that the tumour suppressor DLC1 is deleted in 50% of liver cancers (Xue et al, 2008; Yuan et al, 1998).

EMBO Molecular Medicine

They hope their results provide a significant breakthrough towards advancing the production of bio-energy from miscanthus.

BBC

The advent of bio-based benzoxazine in the field of polybenzoxazines is a major breakthrough towards their sustainable development.

Polymer

Indeed, the identification of RGCs as the cells of origin for ependymoma was a significant breakthrough towards mapping out the pathogenic mechanisms of ependymoma.

Chinese Journal of Cancer

The research presented in this paper represents a significant breakthrough towards quantitative phenotypic drug screening against neglected diseases, such as schistosomiasis, where the effect of a drug on the target pathogen is manifested through a continuum of complex phenotypes.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a breakthrough towards" when you want to emphasize that a significant advancement has been made that contributes to a larger goal or objective. For example, "This new technology represents a breakthrough towards sustainable energy."

Common error

Avoid overusing "a breakthrough towards" for minor advancements. Reserve it for instances where progress is genuinely significant and transformative, not merely incremental.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a breakthrough towards" functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject complement or an object of a preposition. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English, indicating progress or advancement.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a breakthrough towards" correctly describes significant advancements contributing to a larger objective. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While relatively rare, its usage is appropriate in neutral to formal contexts like news reports, scientific papers, and business communications. When writing, ensure that "a breakthrough towards" is used to describe truly transformative progress, not just incremental improvements. Consider alternatives like "a step in the direction of" or "a move toward" to vary your language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a step in the direction of

Emphasizes movement or progress in a specific direction, similar to making progress.

a move toward

Focuses on the action of moving or progressing.

an advance toward

Highlights the advancement or progression being made.

a progression toward

Emphasizes the process of progressing.

a development toward

Highlights the element of development.

a forward stride toward

Emphasizes making a considerable positive change.

a major advance on

Focuses on a major improvement or progression on something.

significant progress in

Highlights the significant level of the progression.

substantial headway regarding

Emphasizes the important development in something.

notable improvement on

Highlights the positive change on something.

FAQs

How can I use "a breakthrough towards" in a sentence?

You can use "a breakthrough towards" to describe a significant advancement that contributes to a larger goal. For example, "The new policy is a breakthrough towards creating a more inclusive society."

What's a good alternative to "a breakthrough towards"?

Alternatives include "a step in the direction of", "a move toward", or "an advance toward", depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "a breakthrough towards" and "a breakthrough in"?

"A breakthrough in" typically describes an advancement within a specific field or area, while "a breakthrough towards" describes progress that contributes to a broader objective or goal. For instance, "a breakthrough in medicine" vs. "a breakthrough towards a cure".

When is it appropriate to use "a breakthrough towards"?

Use "a breakthrough towards" when highlighting a notable achievement that propels progress toward a desired outcome or long-term objective. For example, "The treaty represents a breakthrough towards lasting peace.".