give a step forward

USAGE SUMMARY

"give a step forward" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to someone taking an action that will advance or help things progress. For example, "The government needs to give a step forward and create better policies to help the impoverished."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Red Bull hoped their switch to Honda engines for this season would give them a step forward in 2019.

BBC

It will be their last chance to learn about their new cars before the race in Melbourne on 15-17 March - and an opportunity to fit the upgrades that will give them a step forward in performance for the first grand prix.

BBC

"A player like Ozil gives you a step forward quality-wise and gives you another player on the pitch who can decide the game for you.

Independent

and others -- said a suggestion by the HHS Advisory Committee on Blood and Tissue Safety to have men who have sex with men wait one year after a sexual encounter before giving blood is "a step forward," but "still prevents many low-risk individuals from donating blood".

Huffington Post

While both proposals have been brought up at previous meetings, the mere fact that they are now being given proper consideration is a step forward.

The New York Times - Sports

That's a step forward, given that the laboratory analysis apparently takes a long time and the margin for error is great.

The New York Times - Food

Roosten took a step forward and gave the wallet a kick.

The New Yorker

"It's a step forward, but given where their economy is, they need to do more".

The New York Times

[#unhandled_cartoon] Roosten took a step forward and gave the wallet a kick.

The New Yorker

This month they took it a step forward and gave their fans the power to pick the best albums released since the site's inception.

Vice

Blatter conceded the decision to have the bidding processes for two World Cups at the same time had been "a mistake" but said the move to have the 208 congress delegates vote on future World Cups, rather than the 24-man executive committee making the decision, was a step forward as it gave more power to individual football associations.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "give a step forward" when you want to emphasize the action of taking a proactive measure to initiate or support progress in a specific situation. For instance, "The company needs to give a step forward by investing in employee training."

Common error

Avoid using "give a step forward" too frequently in your writing. While grammatically correct, its relative rarity can make your text sound repetitive or unnatural. Vary your phrasing by using more common synonyms like "advance" or "promote" when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "give a step forward" functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action that contributes to progress. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English, but its usage is infrequent.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "give a step forward" is grammatically correct but relatively uncommon. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English, suggesting it describes an action that advances a situation. While its usage is limited across various contexts, focusing on synonyms like ""take a progressive measure"" or "advance an initiative" may be more effective due to their higher frequency. Given its less common usage, careful consideration should be given when employing this phrase in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take a progressive measure

This alternative focuses on the action of implementing something that drives progress.

advance an initiative

This suggests promoting and furthering the cause of an initiative.

foster positive advancement

This implies creating conditions for improvement and positive movement.

propel progress

This emphasizes a forceful push towards improvement or advancement.

encourage advancement

This highlights creating an environment that makes development more likely.

facilitate advancement

This focuses on removing obstacles and making progress smoother.

stimulate growth

This suggests inspiring development or an increase in size and scope.

cultivate progress

This implies carefully nurturing and developing advancements.

engineer improvements

This focuses on planning and creating advancements systematically.

initiate forward movement

This emphasizes the beginning stages of making progress.

FAQs

How can I use "give a step forward" in a sentence?

You can use "give a step forward" to describe taking an action that will help advance or progress a situation. For example, "The government needs to "take a progressive measure" and create better policies to help the impoverished."

What are some alternatives to "give a step forward"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like ""take a progressive measure"", "advance an initiative", or "propel progress".

Is it better to say "give a step forward" or "take a step forward"?

"Take a step forward" is much more common. "Give a step forward" is grammatically correct, but significantly less frequent in general usage. Therefore, "take a step forward" is the "more conventional choice".

What does it mean to "give a step forward"?

To "give a step forward" implies initiating or supporting an action that contributes to progress. The phrase suggests providing the impetus or support for positive change or advancement. Alternatives such as "advance an initiative" or "propel progress" capture a similar meaning.