front of a procession

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "front of a procession" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the leading part or the foremost position in a ceremonial or organized movement of people. Example: "The band played lively music at the front of the procession, setting a festive tone for the event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In September 2010 an Egyptian daily altered a picture taken at the Middle East peace talks to position the former president Hosni Mubarak at the front of a procession of world leaders down the red carpet.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

And in September 2010 Egypt used the power and versatility of digital cut-and-paste to move Hosni Mubarak to the front of a red-carpet procession of world leaders – ahead of Barack Obama, when the original image had Mubarak behind.

The Guardian

Through those days there came to the front door a procession of well-turned-out, silver-haired ladies, each asking how Roz was getting on, and each bearing a casserole or pot supper.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Wearing matching black Harley-Davidson helmets, they rode motorcycles toward the front of the procession through a crush of cameramen, photographers, reporters and leather-clad bikers, all jostling for just a peek at the woman who might be president.

The New York Times

Ahed, her blond hair in a long braid, clutched a cousin at the front of the procession.

The New York Times - Magazine

A Union Pacific spokesman, Tom Lange, said the train crew had properly sounded the horn, but witnesses said they heard the horn only a few seconds before impact, and parade participants near the front of the procession said they did not even realize a train was coming.

The New York Times

The street outside was now crammed; I was propelled by a crowd eager to stay near the front of the procession and perhaps catch another glimpse.

The Guardian - Opinion

When, famously, Al Ahram doctored an image of the Middle East peace process talks to depict Mubarak at the front of the procession (rather than Obama), Egyptians took to Photoshop to rewrite history themselves.

The Guardian - Opinion

Stationed, like an advance man, hundreds of yards out in front of the procession as it made its way through the Negro section of Montgomery and, ultimately, past a hundred and four intersections was Charles Mauldin, dressed in his Hudson High sweatshirt and blue jeans and an orange jacket, and waving a little American flag and a megaphone.

The New Yorker

At the Invalides, protesters carrying a banner that read "Citizens in danger" marched at the front of the procession and held coffin-shaped boards in memory of those killed.

Los Angeles Times

For nearly half an hour, dozens of masked youth took over the front of the procession, clashing with riot police officers.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "front of a procession" to clearly indicate the leading part of an organized movement or parade. It provides a visual and spatial reference, enhancing clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "in front of a procession" when you specifically mean the leading segment of the procession itself. "In front" generally refers to a separate location ahead of something; use "front of" to denote being part of and leading the procession.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "front of a procession" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase acting as an adverbial modifier. It specifies the location or position within the context of a procession, describing where someone or something is situated. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "front of a procession" is a grammatically correct and frequently used prepositional phrase that denotes the leading position in an organized movement. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides examples across various contexts, primarily in news and media. While alternatives like "head of the procession" exist, "front of a procession" is a clear and effective way to specify spatial location. The phrase maintains a neutral register and should be used to accurately describe the foremost part of any organized parade or movement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

head of the procession

Replaces "front" with "head", indicating the foremost part.

at the head of the procession

Adds "at the" for slightly different emphasis.

beginning of the procession

Substitutes "front" with "beginning", emphasizing the start of the sequence.

lead of the procession

Uses "lead" to highlight the guiding position at the front.

forefront of the procession

Replaces "front" with "forefront", suggesting prominence.

at the front of the parade

Replaces procession for a parade.

vanguard of the procession

Employs "vanguard" to indicate the leading section, often implying importance or protection.

first in the procession

Uses a simple "first" to denote the initial position.

leading the procession

Verb phrase emphasizing action of leading.

initial part of the procession

A more descriptive and less direct alternative.

FAQs

How can I use "front of a procession" in a sentence?

To use "front of a procession" in a sentence, consider contexts where a group is moving in an organized manner, and you want to specify the leading part. For instance, "The mayor walked at the front of the procession during the town's annual parade."

What is a good alternative to "front of a procession"?

Alternatives to "front of a procession" include "head of the procession", "lead of the procession", or "beginning of the procession", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "in front of the procession" instead of "front of a procession"?

While "in front of the procession" is grammatically correct, it suggests something is located ahead of the procession but not part of it. "Front of a procession" indicates being the leading element within the procession itself.

What's the difference between "front of a procession" and "leading the procession"?

"Front of a procession" is a noun phrase that describes a location or position. "Leading the procession" is a verb phrase that describes the act of guiding or being at the head of the procession.