a leading time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a leading time" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be a confusion with "lead time," which refers to the amount of time needed to complete a process or deliver a product. Example: "The lead time for this project is estimated to be three weeks."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The industry has undergone considerable consolidation in the last several years, with Starwood Hotels and Resorts last year paying $403.9 million for Vistana, a leading time share company, and this week Carnival, the cruise ship company, agreeing to acquire Fairfield Communities.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

There was a Kenyan top nine in the men's 3,000m steeplechase, with teenager Conseslus Kipruto setting a meeting record and a world leading time of 8 01.16.

BBC

Glenn McFadden, a 6-4 junior at Hillhouse High School in New Haven, had a United States leading time of 21.4 seconds this year for the 200 meters and was a top prospect to win the national title.

The New York Times - Sports

He powered down the home straight to win in a World Leading time of 19.74 seconds, with a legal tail wind of 1.6 meters per second.

Wikipedia

In the final, he again did not start well, but at 70 meters he pulled away to win in a World Leading time, and his 3rd fastest ever, of 9.75 seconds with a tail wind of 1.1 meters per second.

Wikipedia

Only Felix Sanchez, the Dominican Republic winner with a world leading time of 47.63, celebrated.

The Guardian - Sport

The 21-year-old Moroccan produced a tremendous finish to go under two minutes for the first time when winning in a world leading time of 1 58.40.

The Guardian - Sport

The Jamaican set a world leading time of 19.66 seconds to secure his third successive world title in the event.

BBC

As little magma moved toward Shinmoedake until the sub-plinian event started, it was difficult to forecast the onset of subplinian event with a sufficient leading time.

Earth, Planets and Space

Meilutyte set a world leading time to qualify for the final, where she became Lithuania's first ever Olympic gold medallist in the pool.

BBC

Hejnova broke the Czech national record and set a world leading time of 53.07secs, in addition to securing the Diamond League title.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to the time it takes to complete a process, use "lead time" instead of "leading time". For example, "The lead time for delivery is 2-3 weeks".

Common error

Avoid using "leading time" when you mean "lead time". "Lead time" correctly describes the duration between the start and completion of a process.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a leading time" functions as a noun phrase modified by an adjective. However, as pointed out by Ludwig AI, this phrase is not considered standard English and is often a misunderstanding or misuse of the term "lead time".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a leading time" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. As Ludwig AI suggests, it is often a confusion with the term "lead time", which refers to the time needed to complete a process. While the phrase does appear in some contexts like News & Media or Science, it's best to avoid it in favor of more accurate and widely accepted alternatives like "lead time", "preparation time" or "turnaround time", depending on the intended meaning. Always prioritize clarity and correctness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the lead time

Focuses on the time needed to complete a process, differing from "a leading time" in its grammatical correctness and common usage.

a significant head start

Focuses on the advantage gained by starting earlier, shifting the emphasis from pure time to competitive advantage.

an early advantage

Emphasizes the benefit of being ahead in a competition or process, rather than the specific time measurement.

a predictive timeframe

Highlights the duration within which a forecast is expected to be accurate, moving away from a literal 'leading' position.

an advanced schedule

Implies a schedule set ahead of the usual time, focusing on forward planning and time management.

an introductory period

Highlights the initial time frame at the start of something, differing from "a leading time" by focusing on the commencement aspect.

an initial phase

Replaces 'leading' with the concept of being at the start of something, changing the emphasis to the beginning stage.

a preliminary period

Emphasizes the initial time frame before the main event or activity, substituting 'leading' with 'preliminary'.

a preparatory interval

Highlights the time set aside for preparation, changing the focus from a leading position to readiness.

a prime time slot

Refers to the most popular or important time for broadcasting or events, shifting the context from a simple time measurement to importance and popularity.

FAQs

What is the correct way to refer to the time it takes to complete a process?

The correct term is "lead time", which refers to the duration between the initiation and completion of a process. Avoid using "a leading time".

Is "a leading time" grammatically correct?

No, "a leading time" is not grammatically correct. The proper term to use when referring to the duration needed to complete a process is "lead time".

What can I use instead of "a leading time" when discussing forecasts?

Depending on the context, you could use "predictive timeframe" or "forecast horizon" to describe the period for which a forecast is expected to be accurate.

What does "lead time" mean?

"Lead time" refers to the amount of time it takes to complete a process, from initiation to completion. It is commonly used in project management and supply chain contexts.