headway toward

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "headway toward" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing progress or advancement in a particular direction or goal. Example: "The team is making significant headway toward completing the project ahead of schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

She could no longer make headway toward land against the current.

The New York Times - Magazine

He escaped and "was making fair headway toward home" when he was recaptured.

The New York Times

Both are making headway toward a possible opening in the Oscar category, though they may face Academy competition from Emmanuelle Riva in "Amour".

The New York Times

Although researchers have made significant headway toward constructing fusion reactors capable of such confinement, no device of this kind has been developed sufficiently for commercial application.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The agreement on new talks comes six months after Mr. Vajpayee and his diplomats made headway toward resolving a 45-year border dispute with China.

The New York Times

A Kremlin aide later met with a rebel negotiator, but apparently made little headway toward ending the two-year-old war, which appears to be at a standoff.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

A1 The United States made rapid headway today toward persuading the Security Council to confront Iraq, as Russia hardened its position against Baghdad and the European Union supported a new resolution to force the return of weapons inspectors.

The New York Times

In his fourth day of shuttle diplomacy, the American envoy, Gen. Anthony C. Zinni, appeared to make substantive headway today toward brokering a cease-fire, despite fighting in Bethlehem and two terrorist attacks in Israel that killed a high school student and wounded several people.

The New York Times

The president has made no headway in Congress toward an overhaul he favors to give legal status to illegal immigrants.

The New York Times

And when you know your own map, you can avoid the obstacles that prevent you from making headway in your life toward the things you want -- especially toward being your purpose.

Huffington Post

A team from the monetary fund left Buenos Aires last Friday without saying publicly that any headway had been made toward an agreement that would restore Argentina's credit line with the fund, which was suspended in December.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "headway toward" to emphasize tangible progress being made in the direction of a specific goal. It suggests more than just movement; it indicates measurable advancement.

Common error

Avoid substituting "headway toward" with weaker phrases like "trying to" when you want to highlight genuine, demonstrable progress. "Headway toward" implies concrete steps and a tangible impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "headway toward" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating progress or advancement in a particular direction. Ludwig confirms its usability, showing it's commonly used to describe movement or improvement relative to a goal.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "headway toward" is a grammatically sound and commonly used prepositional phrase that indicates progress being made in a specific direction. As confirmed by Ludwig, it appears frequently in news, scientific, and business contexts. When aiming to express measurable advancement, "headway toward" is a more potent choice than simpler alternatives. While phrases like "progress toward" and "advancement toward" offer similar meanings, "headway toward" specifically emphasizes the tangible steps taken and a noticeable impact toward achieving a goal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

progress toward

Replaces "headway" with a more general synonym for advancement.

advancement toward

Similar to "progress toward", but emphasizes forward movement.

movement toward

Focuses on the act of moving closer to a target.

steps toward

Highlights individual actions taken to reach a goal.

development toward

Emphasizes growth and evolution in the direction of a goal.

push toward

Suggests a strong effort to move in a specific direction.

drive toward

Implies a forceful and energetic movement toward a goal.

endeavor toward

Highlights the attempt to achieve a specific outcome.

efforts to achieve

Focuses on the exertion of energy to accomplish something.

actions aimed at

Stresses the intent behind particular activities.

FAQs

How can I use "headway toward" in a sentence?

You can use "headway toward" to describe progress being made towards a specific goal. For example, "The scientists are making significant headway toward finding a cure for the disease."

What are some alternatives to "headway toward"?

Some alternatives include "progress toward", "advancement toward", or "movement toward", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "headway toward" or "progress toward"?

Both phrases are correct, but "headway toward" often suggests more tangible and measurable advancement than the more general "progress toward".

In what contexts is "headway toward" most appropriate?

"Headway toward" is suitable in contexts where you want to emphasize that concrete steps and real advancements are being made toward a specific objective, such as in scientific research, business development, or political negotiations.