leading lead

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "leading lead" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in a context where you are referring to a lead that is at the forefront or most important among others, but clarity is essential. Example: "In our sales team, the leading lead has shown exceptional potential for closing deals."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

TEXANS DEFEAT THE COWBOYS Case Keenum and T. J. Yates each threw a touchdown pass in their battle for the backup job, and Cierre Wood and Dennis Johnson combined for 187 yards rushing, leading lead the Houston Texans past the Dallas Cowboys, 24-6.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The decision to run advertisements against Mr. McCain in New Hampshire, where Mr. Romney was at the time still leading, led to more internal campaign debate than the one in Iowa, given that Mr. Romney was clearly trailing.

The New York Times

Let's start with Abu Zubaydah, who was waterboarded so aggressively, leading led to convulsions and vomiting....and in one instance he became completely unresponsive with bubbles rising through his open full mouth.

Huffington Post

Fortunately, Mr. Branagh hasn't forgotten Rosalind altogether, and around the midpoint of the film he has no choice but to let his leading lady lead.

The New York Times - Arts

The other ringer is Robert (played by Jason Tomkins) – one of the seven dwarves in panto at Eastbourne – whose crush on his leading lady leads to much teasing by his co-stars.

The Guardian

Testimonial evidence suggests that Francisco Goya applied white lead, Naples yellow, litharge, and extract of Saturn­ all pigments containing primarily lead to his canvases using his fingers, leading to lead poisoning.

Vice

Its front page challenges us, its flow of pages works subtly upon our thinking, and its leading articles lead us – or at least try to.

The Guardian - Opinion

Nice to see a leading man lead the story without feeling the need to steal the show.

Huffington Post

Despite this, his taking of the crown, the disappearance of Edward's sons and the execution of several leading nobles, lead to discontent and rebellions.

BBC

Apart from the visible problems of molding, there is also the hidden aspect of bacterial and fungal growth leading that lead to health problems.

WikiHow

Structural transformation creates new leading sectors, leads to new organization of workers and facilitates technological upgrading.

Journal of Economic Structures

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using redundant phrases like "leading lead". Choose a more precise and concise term such as "primary lead" or "top lead" to improve clarity.

Common error

Be careful of using the same adjective to define a noun. Prefer "primary", "top" or "main" instead of stacking "leading" with "lead".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leading lead" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "leading" attempts to emphasize the importance of the noun "lead". However, due to its redundancy, it's considered grammatically weak. The example provided by Ludwig shows instances where this phrase appears, though it is not considered best practice.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "leading lead" is considered redundant and grammatically weak. While it appears in some contexts, as Ludwig shows, it's generally better to avoid it in favor of clearer and more concise alternatives like "primary lead", "top lead", or "main lead". These options provide the same emphasis without the unnecessary repetition. As noted by Ludwig, the redundancy makes the phrase incorrect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Primary lead

Replaces "leading" with "primary", indicating the most important lead.

Top lead

Uses "top" to denote the most significant lead.

Main lead

Employs "main" to signify the principal lead.

Foremost lead

Substitutes "leading" with "foremost", highlighting prominence.

Principal lead

Utilizes "principal" to denote the chief lead.

Key lead

Replaces "leading" with "key" to show importance.

Significant lead

Indicates that the lead is particularly important or noteworthy.

Dominant lead

Implies that the lead is the most influential or powerful.

Prominent lead

Highlights that the lead stands out or is easily noticeable.

Chief lead

Denotes the head or most important lead.

FAQs

What does "leading lead" mean?

The phrase "leading lead" is redundant and not standard English. It typically refers to the most important or prominent lead, but using just "primary lead" or "top lead" is clearer.

Is it grammatically correct to say "leading lead"?

No, it is not considered grammatically correct due to its redundancy. Using "leading" to describe "lead" is repetitive. A better choice would be a synonym like "principal lead".

What can I say instead of "leading lead"?

You can use alternatives such as "primary lead", "top lead", or "main lead" depending on the context. These options are more concise and avoid redundancy.

When should I use "leading lead"?

It is generally advisable to avoid using "leading lead" altogether. Opt for clearer and more concise alternatives like "significant lead" or "key lead" to improve the quality and clarity of your writing.