lead the opinion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lead the opinion" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an attempt to express the idea of influencing or guiding public opinion, but it is not a commonly used expression. Example: "The politician aimed to lead the opinion of the voters during the campaign."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

They lead the opinion polls.

The Economist

It is not expected to pass in the current parliament especially since an election is likely this spring, if not earlier, and the Conservatives, who oppose the bill, lead the opinion polls.

The Economist

Not only does the PRI candidate for governor lead the opinion polls by 14 points, but his party looks set to take back the mayor's office in Monterrey after three successive PAN administrations.

The Economist

And Conservatives dropped from second to third place, although the party was initially seen to lead the opinion polls at the start of the campaign, triggered by the resignation of Chris Huhne.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

He leads the opinion polls.

The Economist

This has only three seats in the legislature but leads the opinion polls.

The Economist

Mr Colom long led the opinion polls, but he is a poor public speaker.

The Economist

It's the list of candidates who have led the opinion polls in Iowa during the past six months.

The New Yorker

In the province, the secessionist Bloc Québécois leads the opinion polls after being written off for dead two months ago.

The Economist

Moon Jae-in, a veteran lawmaker from the opposition Democratic party of Korea, leads the opinion polls.

The Guardian

"JUST one round," sang the supporters of Rafael Correa, who had led the opinion polls heading into the first round of Ecuador's general election on October 15th.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to express the idea of influencing public opinion, opt for more standard and widely accepted alternatives such as "influence public opinion" or "shape public perception" to ensure clarity and avoid potential grammatical concerns.

Common error

Avoid constructing phrases word-for-word from another language. The phrase "lead the opinion" might arise from attempting a direct translation, which often results in awkward or incorrect English. Instead, focus on the underlying meaning you wish to convey and use established English idioms to express it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lead the opinion" functions as a verb phrase attempting to describe the act of influencing public sentiment. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is not correct in standard written English. The examples show its usage in contexts where influencing or guiding opinions is discussed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66.66%

Science

33.33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lead the opinion" is not considered standard English. Ludwig AI analysis suggests using more accepted alternatives like "influence public opinion" or "shape public perception" for clarity and correctness. While the phrase appears in various sources, primarily news and media, it's essential to opt for grammatically sound options. Given the availability of better alternatives, it's advisable to avoid "lead the opinion" in formal or academic writing to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

influence public opinion

Focuses on the act of affecting or shaping the views held by the public.

shape public perception

Highlights the formation and direction of how the public understands or interprets something.

guide public thought

Emphasizes the role of directing or steering the public's reasoning or consideration.

sway public sentiment

Indicates a shift or alteration in the emotional feelings held by the public.

mold public mindset

Suggests a fundamental transformation of the public's prevailing attitude or way of thinking.

direct popular belief

Implies controlling or managing what is generally accepted or trusted by the populace.

drive public discourse

Highlights the act of setting the agenda and tone for public conversation or debate.

orient public views

Focuses on positioning or aligning the public's perspectives in a specific direction.

affect collective judgment

Indicates an impact on the overall assessment or evaluation made by a group of people.

frame public understanding

Emphasizes the construction or presentation of information to influence how the public comprehends a topic.

FAQs

What does "lead the opinion" mean?

While not a standard English phrase, "lead the opinion" attempts to convey the idea of influencing or guiding public sentiment. It's better to use phrases like "influence public opinion" or "shape public perception".

How can I "lead the opinion" correctly?

The phrase "lead the opinion" isn't grammatically sound. To convey a similar meaning, use alternatives such as "guide public thought", "sway public sentiment", or "mold public mindset".

Which is correct, "lead the opinion" or "influence public opinion"?

"Influence public opinion" is the correct and more widely accepted phrase. "Lead the opinion" is not a standard expression in English.

What are some alternatives to "lead the opinion"?

Instead of "lead the opinion", consider using "direct popular belief", "drive public discourse", or "orient public views" to convey similar ideas of influencing or directing public thought.