leading tactic

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "leading tactic" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a primary or most effective strategy in a particular context, such as business, marketing, or military operations. Example: "Our leading tactic in this campaign has been to focus on social media engagement to reach a wider audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Until this year, ICE's leading tactic was "silent raids," audits of companies' hiring documents.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

So is its bare-bones price of $9.99 for popular e-books, a loss-leading tactic that might be classified as predatory pricing if there weren't so many legal hurdles to making such a charge stick.

The Guardian - Books

In the past, shootings have been examined in three parts: tactics leading to the incident, drawing of the weapon and the use of force.

The New York Times

Chief Parks had argued that the shooting should have been found within the department's policy guidelines even if the tactics leading to it were faulty.

The New York Times

The Florida senator similarly criticized Cruz's tactics leading up to the South Carolina primary, accusing his opponent of being behind misleading push polls and robo-calls.

The Guardian

Suppliers have claimed that the major supermarkets use unfairly aggressive pricing tactics, leading to the creation of an ombudsman to protect producers and customers.

The Guardian - Business

Steele honed his tactics leading a Special Forces mission in El Salvador during that country's brutal civil war in the 1980's.

The New York Times

He devised innovative tactics, leading four-man teams — at the time they were considered unconventionally small — on ambush raids at night.

The New York Times

By Jane Mayer The New Yorker, February 3 , 1997P. 32 THE POLITICAL SCENE about dubious Democratic Party fund-raising tactics leading to the 1996 election... On the muggy afternoon of Saturday, Jun.

The New Yorker

The commission unanimously agreed that the officer who killed Ms. Mitchell, Edward Larrigan, had used flawed tactics leading to the shooting: He did not take the screwdriver when he had an opportunity, he did not use nonlethal options and he did not keep a safe distance from her.

The New York Times

The years that followed were fractious and confused, as the Tuareg were riven by tribalism and factionalism — some of it arising internally, and some of it fostered by the Malian government's divide-and-rule tactics — leading to an alphabet soup of rebel acronyms, of which the M.N.L.A. is only the latest iteration.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "leading tactic", ensure the context clearly establishes what makes the tactic 'leading' – is it the most effective, most common, or most recently adopted?

Common error

Avoid using "leading tactic" if the tactic is not genuinely prominent or demonstrably more effective than alternatives. Using a more general term like "common tactic" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leading tactic" functions as a noun phrase, where "leading" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "tactic". As Ludwig AI suggests, it refers to the main or most effective strategy in a particular context. The examples in Ludwig illustrate its use in various fields, such as business, politics, and military strategy.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "leading tactic" is a grammatically sound and semantically clear way to describe a primary or most effective strategy. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. Although not very frequent, it is versatile enough for use across various contexts, including news, business, and scientific writing. When employing this phrase, ensure that the context clearly defines what makes the tactic 'leading'. Consider using synonyms like "primary strategy" or "main approach" for stylistic variation. Be mindful not to overstate the significance of the tactic if it is not genuinely prominent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primary strategy

Replaces "tactic" with "strategy", indicating a more comprehensive plan.

main approach

Substitutes both "leading" and "tactic" with more general terms.

key method

Emphasizes the importance of the method being used.

principal means

A more formal and somewhat archaic alternative.

foremost technique

Highlights the skill or artistry involved in the tactic.

chief maneuver

Implies a strategic or tactical action, often in a competitive context.

dominant strategy

Suggests the strategy is superior or more effective than others.

prevailing method

Indicates the method is widely accepted or currently in use.

go-to strategy

An informal alternative implying a reliable and frequently used approach.

preferred approach

Highlights that the approach is favored over other options.

FAQs

How can I use "leading tactic" in a sentence?

You can use "leading tactic" to describe a main or primary approach in a strategy. For example, "The company's "leading tactic" in the marketing campaign was social media engagement".

What are some alternatives to "leading tactic"?

Alternatives to "leading tactic" include "primary strategy", "main approach", or "key method". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "leading tactic"?

Use "leading tactic" when you want to emphasize that a particular tactic is the most important, effective, or frequently used in a given situation. It should be a tactic that noticeably stands out from others.

What's the difference between "leading tactic" and "common tactic"?

"Leading tactic" implies a strategy is the most effective or primary one, while "common tactic" simply means it is frequently used, not necessarily the best. The "leading tactic" may or may not be the "common tactic".