advance by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "advance by" is correct and usable in written English.
It means to make progress or move forward by a certain amount or degree. Some possible contexts in which you could use this phrase include: 1. In a business or academic setting, when discussing a project or research progress: "Our team was able to advance by 25% in completing the project timeline." 2. When describing personal growth or development: "She has advanced by leaps and bounds since starting her new job." 3. In a military context, when discussing movement or conquering territory: "The troops were able to advance by several miles into enemy territory." 4. When talking about progress in a competition or race: "The runner advanced by three positions in the final stretch of the race." Example sentence: "After months of hard work and dedication, she was able to advance by two levels in her yoga practice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Morocco will advance by default.

The New York Times - Sports

3. Payment made in advance by male authority figure.

The New Yorker

Rooms are frequently reserved well in advance by tour groups.

The New York Times - Travel

"Legislation was prepared and approved in advance by Cabinet.

Independent

Paraguay still can advance by beating Slovenia on Wednesday.

The New York Times - Sports

Three years ago he rejected a previous advance by MAN.

The Economist

Characters advance by killing other creatures to earn experience.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Never again would Europe advance by stealth, went the boast.

The Economist

The hijack was planned in advance by the taxi's driver, Zola Tongo.

The Guardian

Targets were often warned in advance by police that their names were on a list.

The Guardian

Tours Monday to Friday at 2pm, April to October; must be booked in advance by phone.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "advance by", ensure you specify the metric or quantity by which something is progressing. For example, "The company's profits advanced by 10%" is more informative than just "The company advanced."

Common error

Avoid using "advance by" when you actually want to express causation. "Advance by" describes the degree of progress, not the reason for it. For instance, don't say "The team advanced by hard work"; instead, say "The team advanced because of their hard work."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "advance by" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating the degree or extent of progression. Ludwig AI suggests it is a correct usage and can be found in many contexts. It details how much something has moved forward or increased, for example, "Analysts expected crude supplies to advance by 1.1 million barrels."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

41%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Academic sources

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "advance by" is a versatile phrase used to quantify progress or increments. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage. Its primary function is to indicate the degree of advancement, making it suitable for professional, scientific, and news contexts. To use it effectively, be sure to specify the metric by which the advancement is measured and avoid using it when describing the cause of the progress. Related phrases like ""progress through"" or "increase through" can serve as alternatives depending on the specific context. By understanding its function and common errors, you can confidently incorporate "advance by" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

progress through

This alternative focuses on the process of moving forward through something, suggesting a more step-by-step advancement.

move ahead via

This option emphasizes the action of moving forward and specifies the means or method used to achieve that advancement.

ascend through

Suggests advancement through levels or ranks, often implying a hierarchical structure.

improve through

Highlights the improvement or betterment achieved through a specific means or process.

proceed via

Indicates a formal or structured way of moving forward, emphasizing the planned route or method.

develop through

Stresses the developmental aspect of advancement, focusing on growth and evolution.

gain ground through

Emphasizes the achievement of progress, often in a competitive or challenging situation.

increase due to

This phrase directly indicates that something is increasing as a result of something else. It's more focused on the cause-and-effect relationship.

grow because of

Implies an increase or development as a direct result of a specific factor or influence.

rise as a result of

This phrase underscores that the rise is a consequence of something else, emphasizing causality.

FAQs

How can I use "advance by" in a sentence?

Use "advance by" to show an increment or progress. For example, "The price of the stock "increased by" 5%" or "The army was able to "progress through" enemy territory, and "advance by" several miles."

What phrases are similar in meaning to "advance by"?

Similar phrases include "progressed through", "move ahead via", "ascend through", or "improve through", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "advance by leaps and bounds"?

Yes, "advance by leaps and bounds" is a correct and idiomatic expression that means to make very rapid progress.

What is the difference between "advance by" and "advance because of"?

"Advance by" quantifies the amount of progress made, whereas "advance because of" explains the reason or cause for the progress. For example, "The project progressed through 25%" (advance by) versus "The project "developed through" the team's hard work" (advance because of).