department heads

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "department heads" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the leaders or managers of specific departments within an organization or company. Example: "The department heads will meet next week to discuss the upcoming budget proposals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

New department heads have already been selected.

The Economist

In three years he replaced 22 department heads.

The New York Times

Yet all 11 department heads in her hospital are men.

The New York Times

Nor are there Arab department heads in City Hall.

The New York Times

They included directives to department heads for carrying it out.

The New York Times

And it gave cabinet secretaries and department heads specific responsibilities.

The New York Times

"They need to make department heads justify staffing," she said.

The New York Times

The committee works closely with a few city department heads.

The New York Times

He locks out department heads who arrive late.

The New York Times

The majority of department heads were British," Mr Faivre said.

The Guardian

Some of them resemble prosperous college department heads; some look like bank vice-presidents.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When addressing multiple "department heads", maintain a formal tone, especially in official communications. Use full titles and professional courtesy.

Common error

Avoid assuming that all "department heads" have the same level of authority or responsibility. Their roles can vary significantly across different organizations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "department heads" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It refers to individuals who are in charge of various departments within an organization. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is both correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "department heads" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase that refers to individuals who manage departments within an organization. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and appropriate term for various contexts. Its prevalence across diverse fields, including news, science, and business, shows its versatility. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media and science contexts. While alternative phrases like "department leaders" and "heads of departments" exist, "department heads" remains a clear and widely accepted term for designating these managerial roles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

department leaders

Replaces "heads" with "leaders", emphasizing the leadership role.

heads of departments

Reverses the order of words to offer a more descriptive phrase.

division managers

Uses "division" instead of "department", implying a larger organizational unit.

section chiefs

Employs "section" and "chiefs", suitable for contexts where departments are smaller sections.

unit supervisors

Uses "unit" and "supervisors", appropriate for smaller, more closely supervised teams.

team leads

Replaces "department" with "team" indicating smaller teams or less formal structures.

group directors

Substitutes "department" with "group" and "heads" with "directors", suggesting a higher level of oversight.

functional managers

Focuses on the functional role of managers within departments.

area supervisors

Specifies the supervisory role over a defined area or region within a department.

service managers

Indicates managers responsible for specific service-oriented departments.

FAQs

How should I use "department heads" in a sentence?

Use "department heads" to refer to the individuals responsible for leading various departments within an organization. For example, "The CEO held a meeting with all the "department heads" to discuss the company's performance."

What are some alternatives to "department heads"?

You can use alternatives such as "department leaders", "heads of departments", or "division managers" depending on the specific context and organizational structure.

Is it correct to use "department heads" in formal writing?

Yes, "department heads" is a perfectly acceptable and understandable term in formal writing. It clearly conveys the meaning of individuals in charge of departments.

What is the difference between "department heads" and "team leads"?

"Department heads" typically oversee larger organizational units and have broader responsibilities, while "team leads" manage smaller teams within those departments. The terms are not interchangeable.