a team headed by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a team headed by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a group of individuals who are being led or managed by a specific person. Example: "The project was successful due to a team headed by an experienced manager."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

A team headed by Perlmutter independently reached the same conclusion.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But the firm has a team headed by a professional property man looking for sites.

The Economist

A dramatic one came from a team headed by Dr. Bengt G. Hansson in Malmo, Sweden.

The New York Times - Science

A team headed by Clare Balding has now been finalised, with Nick Luck in a key role.

Independent

They are involved in repêchage (or second chance) play together with a team headed by Malcolm Brachman.

The New York Times - Arts

In the 1990s, a team headed by Arthur Kellermann of Emory University looked at all injuries involving guns kept in the home in Memphis, Seattle and Galveston, Tex.

The New York Times

In July, President Thabo Mbeki appointed a team headed by his deputy, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, to find a recipe to quicken GDP growth and to cut unemployment.

The Economist

A team headed by the New York design studio behind the High Line has won an international competition to build a park in the shadow of the Kremlin.

The New York Times - Arts

Sperm and cells from eight species have already been stored in the Dubbo bank, which is supervised by a team headed by Rebecca Spindler.

Independent

And a team headed by Peter Gluck, a Manhattan architect, showed how it might fit 20 small units — dubbed microlofts — onto one town-house-sized lot.

The New York Times

(He proudly reports scoring 26 points in a 40-and-older masters tournament against a team headed by the former N.B.A. star Tim Hardaway).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a team headed by", ensure that the person named is indeed the leader or principal investigator, not just a member of the team. Use this structure to clearly indicate responsibility and direction.

Common error

Avoid using "a team headed by" when the person is only a participant or key member, but not the overall leader. Doing so can misrepresent the team's structure and the individual's role. Be sure you are naming the responsible individual.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a team headed by" functions as a modifier to a noun, typically another noun phrase. It introduces a team or group of people and specifies who is in charge or leading the group. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate leadership within a team.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

26%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a team headed by" is a grammatically correct and commonly used construction to indicate leadership within a group. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it serves to identify the leader of a team, often in formal contexts such as news reporting, scientific research, and business. While alternatives like "a team led by" exist, "a team headed by" is a clear and effective way to denote leadership.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a group led by

Focuses on leadership but uses "group" instead of "team".

a squad directed by

Uses "squad" which implies a smaller, more focused team, and "directed" which implies stronger control.

a task force overseen by

Suggests a temporary team assembled for a specific task, with an oversight role.

a unit commanded by

Implies a military or hierarchical structure.

a project managed by

Focuses on project management rather than general leadership.

a committee chaired by

Specifies a formal committee structure with a chairperson.

an organization guided by

Suggests a broader organizational context with a guiding influence.

a division supervised by

Suggests hierarchical supervision within a company or institution.

a party fronted by

Indicates a group, often in the context of political parties or movements, that is led by a prominent figure.

a band captained by

Suggests informal leadership, like a sports team.

FAQs

How can I use "a team headed by" in a sentence?

Use "a team headed by" to introduce a group of people led by a specific individual. For instance, "The study was conducted by a team headed by Dr. Smith."

What are some alternatives to "a team headed by"?

Alternatives include "a team led by", "a group directed by", or "a task force overseen by", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "a team headed by" and "a team led by"?

While both phrases are similar, "a team led by" is a slightly more common and generally applicable alternative. "A team headed by" can subtly imply a more hierarchical structure, although the difference is often negligible.

What if I want to emphasize the collaborative nature of the team, rather than just the leader?

If you want to emphasize collaboration, consider rephrasing to focus on the team's collective effort rather than highlighting a single leader. For example, instead of "a team headed by Dr. Lee", you could say "the research team, including Dr. Lee, collaborated on the project."