a small lead

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small lead" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are referring to a minor advantage or a slight amount of information that could guide or influence a decision or action. Example: "In the race for the championship, the team managed to secure a small lead over their competitors in the first half."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Polls give Obama a small lead.

The Guardian - Opinion

If all the polls show a candidate with a small lead, he or she probably does have a small lead.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Eventually, the electoral commission's tally gave him a small lead.

The New York Times

Our neighbours' son swallowed a small lead pig.

The Guardian

The Knicks took a small lead and kept it.

The New York Times

Mr Chambliss has a small lead in the polls.

The Economist

Polls have consistently shown him with a small lead.

The New York Times

With 17percentt of precincts reporting, Mr. Kerry had a small lead in the actual vote.

The New York Times

Among registered voters, Mr. Kerry had a small lead, 47 to 43percentt.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, the Liberals have taken a small lead on the back of Trudeau's strong debate performances.

The Guardian

Early exit polls suggested that Mr Ferrante had a small lead.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a small lead" to indicate a slight advantage, especially in competitive contexts like elections, sports, or business. Ensure the context clearly establishes what the lead is in reference to.

Common error

Avoid overstating the importance of "a small lead". It indicates a minor advantage, not a guaranteed victory or success. Acknowledge that the situation can change.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small lead" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where 'small' modifies 'lead', indicating a minor advantage. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is a grammatically correct and commonly used construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a small lead" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe a minor advantage in a competitive scenario. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English and applicable in various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media, it maintains a neutral register. While it suggests an advantage, it's important not to overstate its significance, as situations can change. Alternatives like "a narrow advantage" or "a slight edge" can be used to convey a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minor advantage

Replaces 'small' with 'minor' to emphasize the insignificance of the lead.

a narrow advantage

Replaces 'lead' with 'advantage' emphasizing the slight edge in a competitive scenario.

a slight edge

Substitutes 'lead' with 'edge', highlighting a marginal superiority.

a marginal gain

Focuses on the incremental improvement or progress made.

a slim margin

Emphasizes the thinness of the difference between competitors.

a modest head start

Highlights the initial advantage, suggesting a limited degree of progress.

a fractional advantage

Emphasizes the quantifiable but tiny difference.

a limited advantage

Highlights the constraints and the scope of said advantage

a delicate advantage

Highlights the fragility of the lead and possibility of loosing it.

a tentative advantage

Highlights the uncertain and provisional nature of the lead

FAQs

How to use "a small lead" in a sentence?

You can use "a small lead" to indicate a slight advantage in various contexts. For example: "The polls showed the candidate with "a small lead"." or "The team managed to secure "a small lead" in the first half".

What can I say instead of "a small lead"?

You can use alternatives like "a narrow advantage", "a slight edge", or "a slim margin" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a small lead" or "a little lead"?

"A small lead" is generally preferred in formal writing and contexts where you want to emphasize a measurable but minor advantage. "A little lead" is less common but acceptable, conveying a similar meaning with a slightly more informal tone.

What's the difference between "a small lead" and "a large lead"?

"A small lead" indicates a minor advantage, suggesting the situation is closely contested. "A large lead" implies a significant advantage, indicating a more comfortable position and potentially a higher likelihood of success.