make great strides

USAGE SUMMARY

"make great strides" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe progress or advancement in some pursuit, such as "The researchers have made great strides in their effort to develop a vaccine."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Gardeners can make great strides.

The New York Times

And we continue to make great strides when it comes to infection prevention and control efforts.

Stanford University

"We felt we could make great strides with him this summer".

The New York Times - Sports

With an emphasis on proper speed and form, a regular walking routine can make great strides toward improving your health.

Harvard University

Peterson said he believes Zambrano and Benson can both make great strides with minor changes to their delivery.

The New York Times - Sports

She believes NCLB has helped states make great strides in creating an infrastructure to support English-learners.

The Guardian

Similarly, the information revolution is helping us to make great strides as a species, and I'm tremendously grateful for it.

Harvard Business Review

We could make great strides in learning if we were more attuned to how a classroom and its contents can support active, engaged, embodied learning.

The New York Times

The new bill would also make great strides in reducing junk food in schools and improving the nutritional quality of meals.

The New York Times

THE SIGN ENGINEERS Eno became a key figure in a traffic-control awakening that would make great strides in the early 20th century.

The New York Times - Magazine

Simply understanding the vocabulary and knowing how and whom to ask IT-related questions can help non-IT managers make great strides toward organizational change.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "make great strides", ensure the context clearly indicates the area in which progress is being made. For example, "The company has made great strides in reducing its carbon footprint."

Common error

Avoid using "make great strides" when the actual progress is minimal or unsubstantiated. Ensure there's concrete evidence to support the claim of significant advancement.

Linguistic Context

Make great strides functions as a verb phrase indicating significant progress or advancement. It's used to highlight noteworthy improvements or developments in a particular field or endeavor. Ludwig examples confirm its use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

32%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make great strides" is a widely used and grammatically correct verb phrase that signifies significant progress or advancement. It's appropriate for various contexts, including academic, news, and scientific writing. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is well-regarded and frequently used. To use this phrase effectively, ensure the context clearly specifies where the progress is being made and that the progress is indeed substantial. While there are several alternative phrases like ""achieve significant progress"" or ""make considerable headway"", "make great strides" remains a versatile and impactful choice for highlighting noteworthy improvements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

achieve significant progress

Emphasizes the accomplishment of progress rather than the act of making it.

make considerable headway

Focuses on overcoming obstacles and advancing forward.

advance substantially

Highlights the degree of advancement made.

make rapid progress

Stresses the speed at which progress is occurring.

move forward significantly

Highlights the movement and direction of the progress.

make substantial gains

Focuses on the positive outcomes and benefits of the progress.

improve markedly

Emphasizes the noticeable improvement resulting from the progress.

develop considerably

Highlights the growth and development aspect of the progress.

make noteworthy advancements

Emphasizes the importance and significance of the advancements.

demonstrate marked improvement

Highlights the visible and evident nature of the improvement.

FAQs

How can I use "make great strides" in a sentence?

You can use "make great strides" to describe significant progress or advancement in a particular area. For example, "The team has "achieved significant progress" in developing the new software."

What are some alternatives to "make great strides"?

Some alternatives to "make great strides" include "make considerable headway", "advance substantially", or "make rapid progress".

Is it more appropriate to say "make great strides" or "achieve great strides"?

"Make great strides" is the more common and idiomatic expression. While "achieve great strides" isn't grammatically incorrect, it's less frequently used. Consider using "achieve significant progress" as an alternative.

What's the difference between "make great strides" and "make small improvements"?

"Make great strides" implies substantial and noticeable progress, whereas "make small improvements" suggests only minor advancements. One indicates a significant leap forward, while the other indicates incremental changes. Consider using "demonstrate marked improvement" instead of "make great strides".