catching pace

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'catching pace' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the speed at which something is happening, especially when it is getting faster. For example, "The race began slowly, but the runners are now catching pace."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Immobilization of enzymes and their use in the packaging of food is not a very widely travelled path; however, it is catching pace in the ever-evolving food industry.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

At last, government bureaucracy seems to be catching the pace of the modern age.

Huffington Post

Lewis Hamilton has set an eye-catching pace on the penultimate day of pre-season testing in Barcelona.

BBC

The Brit was well supported by Mick Rogers and Froome though and the trio kept a consistent pace, catching Evans and Van den Broeck as they reached the summit.

BBC

The BBC runs the real risk of messy dismemberment – which really could see it weakened editorially and creatively – unless it can find a way of catching up with the pace of the devolutionary process.

The Guardian

Brian Nadeau, handicapper at Horseplayer Now and Brooklyn Backstretch: While the Oaks may not have the firepower of Saturday's Kentucky Derby, it is a tremendous betting race, especially with the 2-1 favorite #14 Monomoy Girl drawing the far outside post and potentially catching an expected hot pace that could hurt her chances.

Forbes

That is why we picked Coursera as the 2012 Crunchies' "Best Overall Startup," because more than anything else our country is heading into a period where higher education and job training is not catching up with the pace of innovation, where the creative part of "creative destruction" has not yet overwhelmingly kicked in.

TechCrunch

182,500 families each year will bury their child because research isn't catching up to the pace necessary to create better medications, treatments, surgeries, or even preventative cures.

Huffington Post

However, the fact that infrastructure is still catching up with the pace of building, prices are less than you might expect for island living, making Cape Verde excellent value in comparison to the Canary Islands, 240 kilometers (150 mi) to the north.

WikiHow

That left just Porte to pace Froome and the duo upped the tempo, catching and passing Quintana in the next kilometre before Froome took off on his own to record a memorable victory.

BBC

But previews suggest that the phone is more about catching up than setting the pace.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "catching pace" when you want to emphasize the act of accelerating to match a certain speed or standard, particularly in competitive or evolving environments. For example: "The company is catching pace with industry innovations."

Common error

Avoid using "catching pace" to describe a state of already being at a certain speed. It should describe the process of accelerating toward that speed, not maintaining it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "catching pace" functions as a verb phrase combined with a noun, indicating an action of accelerating to align with a particular speed or rate. Ludwig AI shows examples primarily in contexts where there's a need to increase speed or performance to match an existing standard, such as in business or technological advancements.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "catching pace" describes the act of accelerating to meet a specific speed or standard, frequently in competitive or quickly changing scenarios. Ludwig AI indicates it is grammatically correct, though rare, with usage spanning news, science, and business contexts. While "catching pace" isn't extremely common, its use is straightforward: highlight the effort to align with a benchmark, avoiding its application to static states. Alternatives like "gaining momentum" offer similar meanings, though "catching pace" distinctly emphasizes the act of achieving alignment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accelerating rhythm

Replaces "catching" with a more direct synonym for increasing speed and "pace" with a synonym for tempo.

gaining momentum

Focuses on the increase in force or speed, rather than the specific concept of 'pace'.

quickening tempo

Substitutes both words with synonyms that emphasize the increasing speed or rate.

speeding up

A simpler, more direct way to express an increase in speed.

increasing velocity

Replaces "pace" with "velocity", which is more specific to physics but still conveys the idea of increasing speed.

matching speed

Emphasizes reaching the same level of speed as something else, rather than the act of accelerating.

keeping up

Focuses on maintaining the current speed or rate, rather than increasing it.

hastening rate

A more formal alternative, replacing "catching" with "hastening" and "pace" with "rate".

escalating speed

Highlights the increase in speed, with a slightly more dramatic tone.

developing speed

Focuses on the gradual increase in speed over time.

FAQs

How can I use "catching pace" in a sentence?

You can use "catching pace" to describe the process of accelerating to match a specific speed or standard. For instance, "The industry is rapidly evolving, and our company needs to focus on "catching pace" with the latest innovations".

What are some alternatives to "catching pace"?

Some alternatives to "catching pace" include "gaining momentum", "accelerating rhythm", or "speeding up", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "catching pace"?

It is appropriate to use "catching pace" when you specifically want to emphasize the effort to accelerate and align with a certain rate or standard, especially in competitive situations.

Is "catching pace" interchangeable with "keeping pace"?

No, "catching pace" and "keeping pace" are not interchangeable. "Catching pace" implies an acceleration to align with a standard, while "keeping pace" suggests maintaining an existing alignment.