adding to the lead

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "adding to the lead" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is increasing their advantage or position, often in competitive situations like sports or business. Example: "The team scored another goal, adding to the lead and securing their victory."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Let's think about adding to the lead".

The New York Times - Sports

A near-post header from Bale put Real in front and he was close to adding to the lead when he pulled down a long ball but his shot when stretching was blocked by Riesgo.

The Guardian - Sport

Davies came close to adding to the lead when heading over but Jelavic added a third deep into stoppage time.

BBC

A great block from David McGregor prevented Clark from adding to the lead following a strong run from Lee Wallace.

BBC

City looked to Silva for their inspiration and he came close to adding to the lead when his chipped effort was cleared off the line by Amorebieta.

BBC

Gervinho, Ramsey and Song also all went close to adding to the lead before Arteta's strike brought Arsenal's 13th goal in their last four league wins over Stoke, Bolton and Chelsea.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Can it hold on or add to the lead?

The New York Times

Ryan Getzlaf, Emerson Etem and Matt Beleskey added to the lead in the third period for the Ducks.

The Guardian - Sport

One pitch that Rolen can do something with probably adds to the lead.

The Guardian - Sport

The team's reserves added to the lead as the Giants won their preseason home opener at Giants Stadium, 27-5.

The New York Times - Sports

Gervinho added to the lead before Van Persie took the captain's armband off Vermaelen for the game's final quarter.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "adding to the lead" to clearly indicate an increase in an existing advantage, especially in competitive contexts like sports or business. It's concise and easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "adding to the lead" when no lead exists. This phrase implies an existing advantage that is being increased, so make sure the situation warrants its use.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "adding to the lead" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating an action that contributes to increasing an existing advantage. As shown in Ludwig, it often appears in sports and other competitive contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Wiki

9%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "adding to the lead" is a grammatically sound and common expression used to describe the action of increasing an existing advantage, predominantly in competitive settings. As Ludwig AI points out, it is most frequently found in news and media sources, with a neutral register suitable for broad communication. Alternative phrases like "extending the advantage" or "increasing the margin" offer similar meanings, though with slightly different nuances. When using the phrase, ensure a lead already exists to avoid misapplication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extending the advantage

Replaces "adding to" with "extending", focusing on the action of making the advantage longer.

increasing the margin

Substitutes "adding to" with "increasing" and "lead" with "margin", highlighting the size of the advantage.

widening the gap

Uses more figurative language, suggesting the distance between competitors is growing.

building on the advantage

Focuses on the action of strengthening an existing advantage.

consolidating the lead

Emphasizes making the lead more secure and stable.

furthering the lead

A more formal way of saying "adding to the lead".

augmenting the advantage

Uses a more sophisticated vocabulary, implying a significant increase.

improving their position

A broader term that may not always refer to a lead but implies advancement.

increasing their score

More applicable to scored competitions.

gaining ground

Suggests progress and improvement, though not necessarily maintaining a lead.

FAQs

How can I use "adding to the lead" in a sentence?

You can use "adding to the lead" to describe increasing an existing advantage. For example, "The team scored again, "adding to the lead" and making it difficult for the opponent to catch up."

What are some alternatives to "adding to the lead"?

Alternatives include "extending the advantage", "increasing the margin", or "widening the gap", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "adding to the lead"?

Yes, "adding to the lead" is grammatically correct. It follows standard English sentence structure and is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "adding to the lead"?

It's appropriate to use "adding to the lead" when you want to emphasize the act of increasing an existing advantage or score, especially in a competitive environment. It implies forward progress and dominance.