far ahead of

USAGE SUMMARY

"far ahead of" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to express that something is substantially better than other options, or that it is significantly further along in the process than other options. For example: "Our performance this year is far ahead of expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They quickly moved far ahead of us.

The New Yorker

Big trawler not far ahead of us!

The New Yorker

Others were far ahead of me.

The New York Times

Maps were far ahead of their time.

The New Yorker

He's so far ahead of everybody".

The New York Times - Sports

It comes far ahead of Britain and America.

The Economist

He's getting too far ahead of me".

The New York Times - Sports

He was getting far ahead of himself.

The New York Times - Sports

Too Far Ahead of the IT Curve?

Harvard Business Review

It's actually far ahead of schedule.

The Washington Post

This was far ahead of schedule.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "far ahead of" to clearly indicate a significant advantage or progress, ensuring the context makes the comparison explicit. For example, "Their technology is far ahead of the competition's."

Common error

Avoid using "far ahead of" without specifying what the subject is ahead of. This can lead to ambiguity. Instead of saying "They are far ahead", clarify: "They are far ahead of schedule".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far ahead of" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase, indicating a state of being in a more advanced position or superior condition relative to something else. Ludwig AI confirms that it's a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

6%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "far ahead of" is a prepositional phrase used to denote a significant lead, advantage, or progress. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media, followed by academic and formal business settings. Ludwig's examples show that it serves to emphasize a notable difference or superiority. Related phrases include "well in front of" and "leading by a large margin". When using "far ahead of", it's important to provide clear context to avoid ambiguity and ensure the comparison is explicit. Overall, it is a versatile and valuable phrase for clear and impactful communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

well in front of

Emphasizes physical or metaphorical placement significantly forward.

leading by a large margin

Highlights the extent of the lead or advantage.

considerably more advanced than

Focuses on the level of progress or development.

substantially exceeding

Indicates a significant degree of outperformance or surpassing.

significantly surpassing

Highlights the act of exceeding expectations or a benchmark.

vastly superior to

Stresses the higher quality or effectiveness.

markedly ahead in

Emphasizes noticeable progress or advantage in a specific area.

outstripping by far

Highlights the act of surpassing or exceeding greatly.

comfortably exceeding

Indicates a surplus with no struggle or need to push.

towering over

Conveys a sense of dominance and height above something.

FAQs

How can I use "far ahead of" in a sentence?

Use "far ahead of" to indicate that something is significantly in front of, more advanced, or superior to something else. For example: "Their research is "far ahead of" other studies in the field".

What are some alternatives to "far ahead of"?

You can use alternatives such as "well in front of", "leading by a large margin", or "vastly superior to" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "far ahead of" or "well ahead of"?

Both "far ahead of" and "well ahead of" are correct and can be used interchangeably. "Far ahead of" emphasizes a greater distance or advantage.

In what situations is "far ahead of" most appropriate?

"Far ahead of" is most appropriate when you want to emphasize a substantial difference or lead. For example: "The company's profits are "far ahead of" last year's".