made substantial headway

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "made substantial headway" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate significant progress or advancement in a particular task or project. Example: "The team has made substantial headway in developing the new software, and we expect to launch it by the end of the month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"When you look at the data, yes, we have made substantial headway," said Hugh Price, the league's president.

The New York Times

[C3.] Women Make Gains in Silicon Valley A new survey indicates that working women have made substantial headway in Silicon Valley and that career optimism is high.

The New York Times

A new survey indicates that working women have made substantial headway in Silicon Valley, where career optimism is high and the percentage of female electrical engineers is four times the national figure.

The New York Times

Indeed, animal rights groups like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have made substantial headway in their fight against what they call animal abuse, and they attribute their success to getting personal with opponents.

The New York Times

C8 Women Gain in Silicon Valley A survey shows that women have made substantial headway in Silicon Valley and that career optimism is high and the percentage of female electrical engineers is four times the national figure.

The New York Times

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and Foreign Minister Igor S. Ivanov of Russia said today that they had made substantial headway toward negotiating an agreement on reducing nuclear weapons that could be signed by President Bush and President Vladimir V. Putin at a summit meeting in Russia in three weeks.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Labour tried – and failed – to make substantial headway with social care funding in the good times, as well as the bad.

The Guardian

Focusing on Al Qaeda A Clearer Picture, A Disjointed Fight As Mr. Clinton began his second term, American intelligence agencies were assembling a clearer picture of the threat posed by Mr. bin Laden and Al Qaeda, which was making substantial headway in Afghanistan.

The New York Times

A1 American Mediator Presses On Two attacks in Israel and heavy gunfire in Bethlehem marked the fourth day of Gen. Anthony C. Zinni's diplomacy, but the American envoy appeared to make substantial headway toward brokering a cease-fire.

The New York Times

He takes heart from the Tories' failure to make substantial headway in council contests, but a local Lib Dem recovery, taking votes from Labour, could give the Tory Ed Matts his big break The nationalist threat Dundee East Labour majority 4,475 Boundary changes left Labour MP Iain Luke "disappointed" after the SNP towns of Carnoustie and Monifieth were added to Dundee East.

The Guardian

A stock's ability to make substantial headway vs. the rest of the market is one of the telltale signs of its potential to be among the big winners of a bullish cycle.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "made substantial headway" to emphasize that significant progress has been achieved, particularly in challenging situations or projects.

Common error

Avoid using "made substantial headway" when the progress is minimal or insignificant. Ensure the advancement is truly noteworthy to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made substantial headway" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the act of achieving notable progress. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used. The examples show its usage in describing progress in various fields like negotiations, technological development and social changes.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "made substantial headway" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to denote significant progress. As Ludwig AI indicates, its usage is appropriate across various contexts, especially in news, media, and scientific domains. While several alternatives exist, such as "achieved considerable progress" or "gained significant ground", "made substantial headway" effectively communicates that meaningful advancement has been achieved. Remember to use it when progress is truly significant to maintain clarity and credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

achieved considerable progress

Replaces "made headway" with "achieved progress" and "substantial" with "considerable".

gained significant ground

Uses a different metaphor, replacing "headway" with "ground" and "substantial" with "significant".

advanced significantly

Focuses on the advancement aspect, using "significantly" to emphasize the degree of progress.

progressed considerably

Similar to "advanced significantly", but uses "progressed" as the main verb.

made significant strides

Employs a different idiom, "made strides", to convey progress, with "significant" quantifying the advancement.

moved forward notably

Highlights the forward movement, emphasizing it with "notably".

achieved marked improvement

Focuses on the improvement aspect of the progress, using "marked" to indicate a clear change.

attained considerable success

Shifts the focus to the success achieved, framing the headway as a positive outcome.

realized significant gains

Emphasizes the gains or benefits resulting from the progress.

demonstrated substantial advancement

Uses a more formal and explicit phrasing to highlight the advancement.

FAQs

How can I use "made substantial headway" in a sentence?

You can use "made substantial headway" to describe significant progress in a task or project. For example, "The team "made substantial headway" in developing the new software."

What are some alternatives to "made substantial headway"?

Alternatives include "achieved considerable progress", "gained significant ground", or "advanced significantly".

Is it appropriate to use "made substantial headway" in formal writing?

Yes, "made substantial headway" is suitable for formal writing, particularly in business or academic contexts, as it clearly conveys a significant level of progress.

What is the difference between "made headway" and "made substantial headway"?

"Made headway" simply means to have made some progress. "Made substantial headway" indicates a more significant and noticeable degree of progress compared to just "made headway".