heading for a while

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "heading for a while" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone is moving towards a destination or situation for a temporary period of time. Example: "After heading for a while, we finally reached the scenic overlook that we had been searching for."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

This is where instant messaging has been heading for a while now, but Tangler looks to have gotten it right.

TechCrunch

Vince Gilligan and his writers have evidently decided to have her go the full Lady Macbeth, and while that's a logical extension of where her character has been heading for a while, I'm still somewhat disappointed in the choice.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Certain areas were only partially flooded, meaning that you might head for a while along what had been a highway and then wind up stuck on dry land.

The New Yorker

Four-in-five did nothing when they witnessed a drunk person heading for a sexual encounter, while 56.3percentt said they did nothing when witnessing someone behaving sexually aggressively. .

Huffington Post

Four-in-five did nothing when seeing a drunk person heading for a sexual encounter, while 53percentt didn't intervene when they saw a person acting in a sexually violent or harassing manner.

Huffington Post

A relief centre in the city's Hagley Park was soon filled to capacity.Overnight, as rain started falling, extra personnel, including military, were heading for Christchurch, while a team of search-and-rescue specialists were crossing the Tasman Sea from Australia.

The Economist

defer.add img); When you reach the barrier, keep heading North for a while, then turn around.

WikiHow

Global stock markets were battered last week by fears that Europe was headed for a sharp slowdown while political leaders were still struggling with the sovereign debt crisis.

The New York Times

Sometimes the on-screen action mirrors the action onstage; sometimes it diverges, a dancer heading for the wings while her film counterpart sticks around.

The New York Times - Arts

Tara, Glenn and Maggie depart with Abraham, Rosita and Eugene in a bus, heading for Washington, D.C., while the rest of the group remain at the church.

Wikipedia

We all know we've been headed here for a while.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "heading for a while" when you want to indicate a temporary direction or purpose. For example, "They are "heading for a while" to a quieter location before making a final decision."

Common error

Avoid using "heading for a while" to describe permanent or long-term situations. The phrase implies a temporary state; using it otherwise can mislead the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "heading for a while" functions as a verb phrase indicating a temporary direction or movement. As supported by Ludwig, it suggests that someone or something is moving towards a specific place or situation for a limited amount of time.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "heading for a while" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate a temporary direction or movement. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While not extremely common, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts. When using the phrase, it's important to ensure that the context implies a temporary state and not a permanent or long-term situation. Alternatives like "going towards temporarily" or "moving in that direction for some time" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

going towards temporarily

Replaces "heading" with the more general "going" and specifies the temporary nature of the movement.

moving in that direction for some time

Substitutes "heading" with "moving in that direction" and replaces "a while" with "some time", offering a more descriptive alternative.

traveling toward for a short duration

Replaces "heading" with the more descriptive "traveling toward" and specifies "short duration".

proceeding towards for a period

Uses more formal vocabulary like "proceeding" and "period" to convey a similar meaning in a slightly elevated register.

progressing in direction for a time

Offers a slightly more formal alternative, using "progressing" and "a time" for a similar meaning.

advancing toward for the moment

Employs "advancing" to suggest progress and "for the moment" to indicate a limited duration.

steering toward momentarily

Implies active direction with "steering" and limited time with "momentarily".

making way towards for a spell

Utilizes the idiomatic expression "making way" and "a spell" to imply movement and a short period of time.

shifting toward temporarily

Conveys a change in direction with "shifting" and emphasizes the temporary nature of the action.

on route for a bit

Uses simpler vocabulary and the colloquialism "a bit" to express the same concept in a more casual manner.

FAQs

How can I use "heading for a while" in a sentence?

"Heading for a while" indicates moving toward something temporarily. For example, "After the meeting, she's "heading for a while" to the library to catch up on some reading."

What are some alternatives to "heading for a while"?

You can use alternatives like "going towards temporarily", "moving in that direction for some time", or "proceeding towards for a period" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "headed for a while"?

Yes, "headed for a while" is grammatically correct, as "headed" is the past tense of "head". It is suitable when describing a past action of temporarily moving towards something.

What does "heading for a while" imply about the destination?

"Heading for a while" implies that the destination is temporary or that the journey towards it will not be prolonged. It suggests a short-term direction rather than a permanent move.