lead over

USAGE SUMMARY

The term 'lead over' is not commonly used in written English. If you wanted to use it, it would need to be qualified with additional information in order to give context. For example, you could say, "The swimmer had a lead over the others in the race".

News & Media

Sports

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

By the end of June, the "Today" lead over "G.M.A".

The New Yorker

Our lead over Japan, Australia, England and Canada has shrunk.

The New York Times

East lead over Washington to 15 ½ games.

The New York Times - Sports

His lead over Harrington is halved.

The Guardian - Sport

They've increased their lead over China.

The Guardian - Sport

That gave him a one-stroke lead over Kuchar.

The New York Times - Sports

Tells about the Presidential campaign, & Nixon's strong lead over McGovern.

The New Yorker

Bradley has a one-stroke lead over Sang-Moon Bae.

The New York Times - Sports

For now, his lead over competitors looks unassailable.

The Economist

By historical standards, Gardner's lead over Udall is unusually close.

The New Yorker

Polls give him a fair lead over Jim Ryan.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lead over", ensure the context clearly defines what is being led, and over whom or what. This prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "lead over" without specifying the metric or area in which the lead exists. For example, instead of saying "They have a lead over their competitors", specify "They have a market share lead over their competitors".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lead over" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase indicating that one entity or person is in a more advantageous position than another. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sports

20%

Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lead over" is a commonly used prepositional phrase to indicate that someone or something has an advantage, often quantifiable, compared to another. While grammatically acceptable, as suggested by Ludwig, the phrase's effectiveness hinges on context; it's most impactful when the specific area of advantage is clearly defined. To enhance clarity, consider using synonyms like "advantage over" or "edge over", and always specify the context in which the "lead" exists. Ludwig's examples show its prominence in news and sports, reflecting its usefulness in reporting competitive scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

advantage over

Replaces "lead" with a synonym emphasizing a beneficial position.

edge over

Similar to "advantage", but suggests a slight or narrow superiority.

superiority to

Uses a more formal noun to indicate being higher in rank or quality.

dominance over

Emphasizes a strong position of control or influence.

upper hand against

Idiomatic phrase indicating a controlling position in a competitive situation.

ascendancy over

Indicates a rise to a position of power or influence.

supremacy over

Suggests ultimate authority or power.

precedence over

Focuses on the order or rank of importance.

pole position over

Borrowed from racing, indicating the leading starting position.

head start on

Highlights the advantage of beginning before others.

FAQs

How is "lead over" used in sports reporting?

In sports, "lead over" often describes a competitor's advantage in score, time, or position. For example, "The runner has a significant "advantage over" the other athletes".

What's a more formal alternative to "lead over" in business contexts?

In a business setting, you might use "superiority to" or "ascendancy over" to sound more professional, indicating a dominant position or market share.

Which prepositions commonly follow "lead", and how does that impact meaning?

While "lead over" is common, you can also use "lead in" (e.g., "lead in sales") or "lead with" (e.g., "lead with innovation"). Each preposition changes the context of the "leadership".

In what contexts might I avoid using the phrase "lead over"?

Avoid using "lead over" in contexts where a more nuanced or specific description of the advantage is needed. For instance, instead of "They have a lead over the others", you might say "They excel in customer service".