make headway steadily

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make headway steadily" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing progress that is being made consistently over time, often in a challenging situation. Example: "Despite the obstacles, the team was able to make headway steadily towards their project goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

New entrants struggle to make headway.

The Guardian - Business

"But leadership is needed to make headway.

The Guardian - Sport

Northampton looking make headway in midfield now.

The Guardian - Sport

How to make headway against chronic diseases.

MIT Technology Review

Microsoft's counter-attack has failed to make headway.

The Economist

We had to use every last gust to make headway.

Independent

The Conservatives struggle to make headway on the economy.

BBC

Can any Republican make headway?

Los Angeles Times

We can make headway.

Unicef

They clearly made headway.

The Economist

Neither has made headway.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "make headway steadily" when you want to emphasize consistent and sustained progress, especially in the face of challenges. For example, "Despite the initial setbacks, the team continued to "make headway steadily" toward their goals".

Common error

While grammatically correct, "make headway steadily" can sound somewhat formal. In casual conversation, consider using simpler alternatives like "making good progress" or "getting somewhere".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make headway steadily" functions as a verb phrase, describing the action of making consistent progress. This is confirmed by Ludwig, which identifies the phrase as grammatically correct and provides examples of its use in context.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make headway steadily" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe consistent progress, especially when facing challenges. As Ludwig confirms, its usage is accepted in various contexts, primarily within news and media. While not exceedingly common, the phrase is suitable for neutral to slightly formal communication. When considering alternatives, options like "progress steadily" or "advance gradually" may offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Progress steadily

Omits "make headway" for a more direct expression of steady progress.

Make consistent progress

Substitutes "steadily" with "consistent progress", highlighting the continuous nature of the advancement.

Continuously make progress

Rearranges the sentence to emphasize the continuous nature of progress.

Advance gradually

Replaces "headway" with "advance" and "steadily" with "gradually", emphasizing a slow pace.

Make gradual progress

Uses "gradual" instead of "steadily" to underline the slow pace.

Move forward continuously

Replaces "make headway" with "move forward" and "steadily" with "continuously", focusing on uninterrupted movement.

Gain ground incrementally

Uses "gain ground" instead of "make headway", emphasizing territorial or competitive advancement, and "incrementally" instead of "steadily", suggesting small steps.

Step forward surely

Conveys a sense of confidence and certainty in making progress.

Achieve consistent results

Focuses on the results achieved rather than the process of making progress.

Continuously improve

Focuses on improvement aspect instead of progress in general.

FAQs

How can I use "make headway steadily" in a sentence?

"Make headway steadily" is used to describe consistent progress over time, often in a challenging situation. For example: "Despite the difficulties, the project team was able to "make headway steadily" towards completion".

What are some alternatives to "make headway steadily"?

Alternatives include "progress steadily", "advance gradually", or "make consistent progress", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "make headway steadily" formal or informal?

The phrase "make headway steadily" tends to be slightly more formal. In informal contexts, simpler alternatives like "making good progress" may be more appropriate.

What does it mean to "make headway steadily"?

To "make headway steadily" means to consistently and continuously make progress towards a goal, often in the face of obstacles or challenges.