a positive move

USAGE SUMMARY

"a positive move" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to praise an action taken by someone as progress or a step in the right direction. For example: "The decision to reduce disposable plastic was a positive move towards a more sustainable future."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"This is a positive move for us.

The New York Times - Sports

That would be a positive move.

The Guardian

Will this be a positive move?

The Guardian

"We'll see if it's a positive move," he said today.

The New York Times - Sports

This is a positive move for all sorts of reasons.

The Guardian

"And I think that is a positive move".

The Guardian

For some, it was a positive move toward righting history.

The Washington Post

I like him there, it is a positive move.

Independent

The restructuring has generally been regarded as a positive move.

The New York Times

He believes the reclassification is a positive move: "This will enhance transparency and accountability.

The Guardian - Business

Has moving to a new locale been a positive move for artists who have attempted it?

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a positive move" when you want to explicitly state that an action is beneficial or represents progress in a particular situation.

Common error

Avoid repeating "a positive move" too frequently in the same paragraph. Vary your language by using synonyms or rephrasing to maintain reader engagement and prevent monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a positive move" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "positive" modifies the noun "move". It serves to describe an action or decision that is considered beneficial or represents progress, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a positive move" is a commonly used phrase to describe an action or decision considered beneficial and progressive. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and versatility across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Formal & Business settings. While the phrase is generally neutral in register, it's important to avoid overuse and consider synonyms to maintain writing quality. The phrase functions as a noun phrase, with "positive" modifying "move", to express approval and signal progress. Top sources like The Guardian and The New York Times frequently employ this phrase, solidifying its place in standard English usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a beneficial step

Replaces "move" with "step" and "positive" with "beneficial", emphasizing the helpful aspect.

a constructive action

Substitutes "move" with "action" and "positive" with "constructive", highlighting the act's building or improving nature.

a step forward

Uses a more metaphorical expression, focusing on advancement.

a favorable development

Replaces "move" with "development" and "positive" with "favorable", indicating a beneficial unfolding of events.

an advantageous change

Highlights the beneficial nature of the change being made.

a progressive measure

Implies that the action taken is modern and forward-thinking.

a helpful initiative

Emphasizes the proactive and supportive aspect of the action.

a welcome decision

Focuses on the positive reception of the decision made.

a good strategy

Focuses on the planned aspect of the move and how good the strategy is.

a smart play

Implies the action was intelligent or cleverly done.

FAQs

How can I use "a positive move" in a sentence?

You can use "a positive move" to describe an action or decision that is beneficial or represents progress. For instance, "Implementing the new policy was "a positive move" towards improving efficiency".

What can I say instead of "a positive move"?

You can use alternatives like "a beneficial step", "a constructive action", or "a step forward", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "a positively move" instead of "a positive move"?

No, "a positively move" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is ""a positive move"", where "positive" is an adjective describing the noun "move".

What's the difference between "a positive move" and "a good move"?

While both phrases indicate a favorable action, ""a positive move"" specifically implies progress or improvement, whereas "a good move" is a more general term for any advantageous action.