a thin lead

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a thin lead" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are referring to a slight advantage or a minor piece of information that could guide a decision or action. Example: "In the investigation, the detective had a thin lead that suggested the suspect might be in the area."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

At week's end, Mr. Noland clung to a thin lead in his race as absentee ballots were being tallied.

The New York Times

Kurt Dumond's dog, Erek, held a thin lead over the rest of the field, with Rothschild's Danz in fifth place.

The New Yorker

That gives it a thin lead over Asda, although it remains well behind Tesco, which has 29.5% of the market.

The Guardian - Business

Respondents gave Denzel Washington a thin lead over Kevin Spacey for Best Actor and Hilary Swank a wider lead over Annette Bening for Best Actress.

The New York Times

With Election Day still more than six weeks away and the president holding a thin lead in national polls, Republicans say they are not conceding that an Obama victory is the likely outcome.

The Washington Post

Explosions kill scores of people in Syrian coastal cities Europe could be about to elect its first overtly far-right leader in modern times – the Freedom party candidate Norbert Hofer holds a thin lead over a former Green party rival.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

In this latest work, the research team discovered how to produce nanowires by dipping a thin lead-containing film into a methanol solution containing cesium, bromine and chlorine heated to about 122 degrees Fahrenheit.

University of California, Berkeley

This indicates the presence of both of these elements in both compositions and concurs with the proposed layer build-up of Le portrait, that the earliest composition was painted on top of a double preparation with a thin lead-based priming over a zinc based ground layer [9].

Heritage Science

Official results gave a former Foreign Minister, George Iacovou, a razor thin lead of half a percentage point over the incumbent President, Glafcos Clerides.

The New York Times

The February election that led to a prolonged period of political uncertainty gave the centre-left bloc a commanding majority in the lower house of parliament but a wafer thin lead in the senate, or upper house.

The Guardian

In the latest national tracking polls he has recovered a wafer thin lead: 46%to45%5% in Gallup, 45% to 42% in the Zogby, and dead level on 46% in the Washington Post.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a competitive situation, use "a thin lead" to convey that the advantage is small and could easily change.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "a thin lead" guarantees success; it merely indicates a slight current advantage that requires continued effort to maintain.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a thin lead" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "thin" modifies the noun "lead". It describes the quality or extent of the "lead", indicating that it is slight or marginal. This is consistent with Ludwig AI's assessment of the phrase being correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

21%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a thin lead" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe a slight advantage in a competitive scenario. Ludwig AI affirms its usability in various contexts. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media sources, where it serves to convey a precarious advantage that could easily shift. Alternative phrases include "a slight advantage" or "a narrow margin". While having "a thin lead" is better than being behind, it suggests a need for continued effort to secure a more substantial advantage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a razor-thin edge

Emphasizes how extremely narrow the advantage is.

a wafer-thin advantage

Emphasizes how extremely narrow the advantage is.

a slight advantage

Focuses on the marginal gain or edge.

a paper-thin margin

Highlights the insignificance of the difference.

a narrow margin

Emphasizes the small difference between two quantities or positions.

a slim chance

Highlights the low probability of success.

a small clue

Points to a minor piece of evidence or information.

a marginal edge

Suggests a barely noticeable superiority.

a tenuous advantage

Highlights the weakness and instability of the advantage.

a fragile lead

Indicates the susceptibility of the lead to being lost or overturned.

FAQs

How can I use "a thin lead" in a sentence?

You can use "a thin lead" to describe a situation where someone or something has a slight advantage, such as "The candidate holds "a thin lead" in the polls" or "The company has "a thin lead" in market share".

What are some synonyms for "a thin lead"?

Alternatives to "a thin lead" include "a slight advantage", "a narrow margin", or "a slim chance" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to have "a thin lead" or a larger one?

Ideally, a larger lead is preferable because it provides a greater buffer against potential setbacks. "A thin lead", while better than being behind, indicates a precarious situation that requires continued effort to maintain or expand the advantage.

What does it imply when someone says a political candidate has "a thin lead"?

It suggests the race is very close and the outcome is uncertain. A candidate with "a thin lead" needs to continue campaigning effectively to secure victory, as the lead could easily be overturned.