leading time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "leading time" is not correct in standard written English; it may be a confusion with "lead time." "Lead time" is used to refer to the amount of time that passes from the start of a process until its completion, often in manufacturing or project management contexts.
Example: "The lead time for this project is estimated to be three months, so we need to start planning immediately."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

Only Felix Sanchez, the Dominican Republic winner with a world leading time of 47.63, celebrated.

The Guardian - Sport

Bolt, who holds the world leading time of 9.82sec set in Kingston this month, dismissed what hope the race might give to his rivals watching around the world.

The Guardian - Sport

The 21-year-old Moroccan produced a tremendous finish to go under two minutes for the first time when winning in a world leading time of 1 58.40.

The Guardian - Sport

Caster Semenya finished a slow second to the defending Olympic champion Pamela Jelimo, failing to break 2min to the Kenyan's world leading time of 1minute 58.49sec.

The Guardian - Sport

Glenn McFadden, a 6-4 junior at Hillhouse High School in New Haven, had a United States leading time of 21.4 seconds this year for the 200 meters and was a top prospect to win the national title.

The New York Times - Sports

He led a decadent social life, counting Andy Warhol, Rudolph Nuryev and the Gettys among his close friends, leading Time magazine to declare: "Yves name is magic... he is the celebrity's celebrity".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

Drummond, who also leads the nation's schoolboys in the 800 this season at 1 53.11, took the lead at 300 meters and lowered his own national-leading time of 1 21.51 set in December.

The New York Times - Sports

Bekele's world-leading time this year is 26:26.97.

The New York Times - Sports

Chambers played down any excitement over his world-leading time.

The Guardian - Sport

Blake clocked a world's season-leading time of 9.75 to beat Bolt in Kingston last month.

The Guardian - Sport

Santia Moss of Pompano Beach, Fla., registered a national season-leading time in the girls' 55-meter hurdles, 8.00 seconds.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

If your context is about setting the pace, consider using terms like "pioneering," "innovative," or "groundbreaking" instead of "leading time" to emphasize the act of setting a new direction.

Common error

Avoid using "leading time" when you actually mean "lead time." "Lead time" refers to the period between the start and completion of a process, while "leading time" is not a recognized standard term and may confuse your readers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leading time" is often used incorrectly; it seems to stem from a confusion with the more standard term "lead time". Ludwig AI indicates its usage is grammatically questionable in many contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Encyclopedias

6%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "leading time" appears in various sources, including news and scientific articles, it's generally considered incorrect in standard English. The intended meaning often relates to a time advantage or duration, but this is more accurately expressed using the term "lead time" or other context-specific alternatives like "turnaround time" or "preparation time". According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically questionable and better replaced with established terms for clarity. Using "lead time" ensures your writing is precise and easily understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lead time

This is the correct and widely accepted term for the duration between the initiation and completion of a process.

turnaround time

Focuses on the time it takes to complete a process and return a result or product.

preparation time

Emphasizes the duration required to get ready before an event or task.

time to completion

Directly indicates how long it will take to finish something.

advance notice

Indicates the amount of warning given before an event or action.

forecast horizon

Refers to the length of time into the future that a forecast extends.

time until deadline

Emphasizes the remaining time before a specific due date.

incubation period

Specifically used to describe the time between exposure to an infection and the appearance of symptoms.

development timeline

Highlights the planned duration for developing a project or product.

window of opportunity

Indicates a limited timeframe where something can be successfully achieved.

FAQs

What is the correct term, "leading time" or "lead time"?

The correct and commonly accepted term is "lead time", which refers to the duration between the start and completion of a process. "Leading time" is generally not recognized as a standard term in English.

How can I use "lead time" in a sentence?

You can use "lead time" in a sentence like this: "The lead time for custom orders is typically longer than for standard products."

What are some alternatives to "lead time" depending on the context?

Depending on the context, you might use alternatives like "turnaround time" (for completion speed), "preparation time" (for getting ready), or "development timeline" (for project schedules).

In what contexts might I see the phrase "leading time" used?

While not standard, "leading time" might appear in technical or specialized contexts, potentially referring to the time advantage one has, or it might be a typo or misunderstanding of "lead time".