leads

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "leads" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to guiding or directing someone or something towards a particular outcome or result. Example: "The new marketing strategy leads to increased customer engagement and sales."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It is a good deal, a deal that meets our core objectives … If this framework leads to a final, comprehensive deal, it will make our country, our allies and our world safer".

The Guardian

Professor Willem Kuyken, director of the Oxford Mindfulness Centre, leads the Aspire Project, a study set up in 2013 to investigate patients' access to MBCT across the UK.

The Guardian

Sadr's popularity among Shias far exceeds that of that Dawa Party which Maliki leads, or the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI) of his ally, Ayatollah Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, which has its own militia, the Badr Brigades.

The Guardian - Opinion

The show hangs on its carefully chosen and often filigreed dialogue, and it is that which leads you into the dark corners.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

For much of its first hour, Mad Dogs US seems overly preoccupied with underlining the tension between its leads in thick marker pen, making it seem less like a high-octane thriller and more like a sulky stag night.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The brooding figure of André, played with brilliant malevolence by Niels Arestrup, takes on the full demonic force that leads to tragedy.

The Guardian - Film

James Holden leads the charge with the deep, ambient vision of techno his acclaimed Border Community label has long championed, but it's the diversity elsewhere that piques the ears.

The Guardian - Music

The news was even worse that Sunday morning as the prime minister came down to breakfast with the Queen – on the day that the banner headline in the Sunday Times declared "Yes vote leads in Scots poll", reporting the shock YouGov survey putting independence in the lead for the first time.

The Guardian

It purports to be objective and rational yet it builds in so many assumptions that it leads inevitably to the conclusion that animal experiments are necessary.

The Guardian

Those findings are emphasised by two new polls last week that stunned Labour's leadership north and south of the border and give the SNP record leads in a Westminster vote in the wake of its Scottish leadership crisis.

The Guardian

Between them, the Times and the Sunday Times have in fact managed to repeat the myth 40 times in total since 1998, an achievement only surpassed by the Daily Mail, which leads the field with 44 mentions.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "leads", ensure the subject logically connects to the outcome. For example, "Effective communication leads to better teamwork" demonstrates a clear cause-and-effect relationship.

Common error

Avoid using "leads" with inanimate subjects that cannot logically cause an action. Instead of saying "The sign leads to confusion", consider "The sign is misleading" or "The sign causes confusion".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "leads" is as a verb, specifically the third-person singular present tense form of "lead". It indicates the action of guiding, directing, or resulting in something. Ludwig confirms its versatile use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

31%

Science

31%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "leads" is a grammatically sound and widely used verb form, primarily serving to indicate direction or causation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's versatile and appropriate for various contexts, especially in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Scientific domains. When writing, ensure the subject logically connects to the outcome, and avoid using "leads" with inanimate subjects that cannot logically cause an action. Consider alternatives like "guides", "directs", or "is responsible for" to add nuance to your writing. The consistency and authority of sources, as well as the correctness of the grammar, contribute to a high expert rating of 4.5.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

directs

Emphasizes the act of guiding or controlling a course of action.

guides

Focuses on providing assistance and support along a path or process.

is in charge of

Highlights the responsibility and authority in managing a task or team.

is responsible for

Indicates accountability for the outcome or execution of something.

spearheads

Suggests initiating and driving a project or movement forward.

is at the forefront of

Highlights being in a leading position in innovation or progress.

sets the pace for

Implies establishing a standard or rate of progress for others to follow.

is instrumental in

Emphasizes the crucial role in bringing about a particular result.

conducts

Focuses on organizing and carrying out a specific activity or experiment.

manages

Highlights the process of controlling or administering resources or personnel.

FAQs

How can I use "leads" in a sentence?

You can use "leads" to indicate guidance or direction, such as "This path "leads to the beach"" or to show a cause-and-effect relationship, like "Hard work "leads to success"".

What can I say instead of "leads"?

You can use alternatives like "guides", "directs", or "conducts" depending on the context. For instance, "The tour guide "guides the group"" or "The investigation "directs the police" to new evidence".

Which is correct: "leads to" or "lead to"?

"Leads to" is used with singular subjects, while "lead to" is used with plural subjects. For example, "The strategy "leads to success"" (singular) versus "These strategies "lead to success"" (plural).

What's the difference between "leads" and "leading"?

"Leads" is a verb indicating direction or guidance, while "leading" is the present participle form, often used as an adjective. For example, "He "leads the team"" (verb) versus "He is a "leading expert"" (adjective).