leading thing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "leading thing" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward or unclear.
It could be used in contexts where you are referring to a primary or most important aspect of a situation or topic, but it is better to clarify what you mean. Example: "The leading thing to consider in this project is the budget constraints."

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Their leading thing was compassion, and practicality," she said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

1.53pm BST The climb is doing some damage, with a Cannondale quintet including Peter Sagan leading things.

The Guardian - Sport

It's not about a small Climate Week team leading things," he says.

The Guardian

"Previously we had a big-tent approach: lots of people thinking they're leading things when they're not, and they only had responsibility for expenditure.

The Guardian

When it's not clear that we're leading things it's like we're not there and that we don't care – it's extremely detrimental to community.

The Guardian - Tech

It remains to be seen how SoftBank's investment strategy will look without him leading things.

TechCrunch

That's not to say I was bored of The Kernel – far from it – but I only really enjoy launching and leading things".

TechCrunch

"But to do the best for rugby in Wales and the national side lots of people gave up a lot and Mike was to the fore of that, leading things and pushing things for the better of rugby.

BBC

As one student leader puts it: "if we don't start leading things on our own, we're going to turn into robots".

Huffington Post

Jenny Eliscu of Rolling Stone magazine echoed his comments, saying, "In all but a couple of songs, the verses are divided into three sections, with Beyonce leading things off, followed by Rowland, then Williams".

Wikipedia

"In response to the theme of The Gathering, we did the People's Parade, which is just that, participants from over 60 countries, every day people leading things off to show that we want everyone to be a part of Ireland and The Gathering," she concluded.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more common and precise alternatives like "main focus", "primary concern", or "key factor" to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "leading thing" in formal or academic writing. Opt for more established phrases that convey the intended meaning with greater precision and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leading thing" functions as a nominal phrase where the adjective 'leading' modifies the noun 'thing'. It intends to specify the most important or prominent aspect, but it's not a common or idiomatic expression. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatical but not typically used.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Wiki

4%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "leading thing" is grammatically acceptable, it is not a common idiom in English. Ludwig AI suggests that it is best to consider using more precise and common alternatives such as "main focus", "primary concern", or "key factor" for enhanced clarity. The phrase appears primarily in news and media contexts but is infrequent overall. Therefore, writers should exercise caution and opt for clearer and more established phrases in formal or academic writing to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

main focus

Replaces the abstract "thing" with a more concrete concept of "focus".

primary concern

Substitutes "thing" with "concern", emphasizing importance and worry.

chief aspect

Replaces "thing" with "aspect", highlighting a particular feature or element.

principal element

Uses "element" instead of "thing", suggesting a fundamental component.

key factor

Emphasizes importance and influence using the word "factor".

dominant aspect

Focuses on prominence and control, using "dominant" to replace "leading".

foremost element

Highlights precedence and ranking, using "foremost" instead of "leading".

central theme

Highlights the unifying idea with the term "theme".

overriding consideration

Highlights the idea of taking precedence and is more emphatic.

guiding principle

Conveys direction and governance through "guiding principle".

FAQs

What does "leading thing" mean?

The phrase "leading thing" refers to the primary or most important aspect of something. However, it's not a very common or idiomatic expression.

What can I say instead of "leading thing"?

You can use alternatives like "main focus", "primary concern", or "key factor" depending on the context.

Is "leading thing" grammatically correct?

While not strictly incorrect, "leading thing" is not a common or preferred phrase in standard English. It's better to use more established alternatives for clarity.

How can I improve my writing by avoiding "leading thing"?

Replace "leading thing" with more specific terms that accurately reflect the intended meaning, such as "the main priority", "the key element", or "the principal objective".