headed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "headed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate direction or intention, often in the context of travel or movement towards a destination. Example: "We are headed to the conference next week to discuss our latest project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

More than ever, Greece seems headed for the exit door.

The Guardian

He said a 2010 contract headed "Sale of Shares" really recorded a loan to his close friend, the then AWH chief executive Girolamo.

The Guardian

Beach-ready and already relaxed, we headed west on a three-hour drive to Essaouira, the nearest coastal town to Marrakech, where we lunched at OceanVagabond, a laidback surfers' hangout.

The Guardian - Travel

Grattard was formerly one of the very few long-standing chefs in the confined but open-minded kitchen at L'Astrance, headed by hyperactive Pascal Barbot.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The no side headed into spring in nervous mood as polls showed that a larger number of people agreed with Salmond's assessment that they were bluffing.

The Guardian

The travelling fans only had to wait two more minutes for the opening goal, though, when O'Donovan headed in a George Francomb free-kick.

The Guardian - Sport

Once a popular hangout among artists and writers, from Paul Bowles to Allen Ginsberg and Matisse, who loved the raffish air and wild, drug-fuelled parties, the city had fallen out of favour since its Fifties' heyday as travellers headed to Marrakesh, but things look set to change.

The Guardian - Travel

Paul Hartley's enterprising side were a match for their hosts in the first half but fell behind a minute before the interval when Stokes headed in a Kris Commons free-kick.

The Guardian - Sport

His mind was made up after a soulless 6-0 defeathatat confirmed a trend in which Atlético headed from crisis to crisis, never winning anything and never looking like winning anything either.

The Guardian - Sport

By early afternoon, the water had turned choppy, so we headed back to port.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Fifa has confirmed it paid $10m to the Caribbean Football Union, a body then headed by Warner, out of funds originally earmarked for South Africa to help it host the tournament, but denies it was a bribe.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "headed" to describe an organizational role, clarify the scope and responsibilities of that position to ensure no ambiguities arise.

Common error

Avoid phrasing that obscures who or what is doing the heading. Instead of saying "The project is being headed", specify who is leading the project: "John is heading the project".

Linguistic Context

The term "headed" functions primarily as a verb, denoting movement in a particular direction or acting as the leader or director of something. As shown by Ludwig, "headed" can also be used as an adjective, such as in the phrase "southward-headed caravans".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Travel

20%

Sport

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "headed" is a versatile term functioning as a verb or adjective to indicate direction, leadership, or textual headings. According to Ludwig, its use is grammatically correct and very common, predominantly appearing in news and media contexts. While "headed" maintains a neutral register, it's crucial to ensure clarity in both directional and leadership contexts, as supported by the insights and examples given by Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moving towards

Emphasizes the act of progressing in a specific direction.

advancing toward

Suggests a forward movement, often with a sense of purpose or progress.

directed

Indicates guidance or control over movement, similar to "headed" when implying leadership.

proceeding towards

Highlights a more formal progression toward a destination or goal.

steering toward

Implies guiding or directing something toward a specific point or outcome.

leading

Implies being in charge or at the front, paralleling the leadership sense of "headed".

making its way to

Suggests movement towards a destination, often used for objects or entities.

titled

Refers to the heading or title of a document, akin to "headed" when describing documents with pre-printed information.

taking the road to

Emphasizes the journey or path toward a certain place or state.

aiming for

Indicates an intention or goal to reach a specific target or objective.

FAQs

How can I use "headed" to describe movement in a sentence?

You can use "headed" to indicate direction or movement toward a specific location. For example: "We "headed" to the polling station before class".

What are some alternatives to "headed" when referring to leadership?

When describing leadership, consider using alternatives like "led", "directed", or "managed" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to use "headed" to describe a document's title?

Yes, "headed" can describe a document with a title or specific information at the top. For instance, "The email was "headed" Notice to Sony Pictures Entertainment".

What's the difference between "headed" and "leading"?

"Headed" can refer to both direction and leadership, while "leading" primarily emphasizes guidance or command. You might say "They "headed" west" (direction) or "She "headed" the department" (leadership), but only "She is leading the department" is appropriate for command.