make significant headway

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make significant headway" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing progress or advancements made in a particular task or project. Example: "After several months of hard work, we finally began to make significant headway on the new software development."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Four rounds of talks since last year have failed to make significant headway.

Independent

Nonetheless, without first addressing funding reform, it is almost impossible to make significant headway with these other matters.

The Guardian

Dozens of strokes in, neither player had been able to make significant headway, with each anticipating the other's shot.

The New York Times

He also knows he must exert pressure on the Israeli authorities in order to make significant headway toward resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The New York Times

While there are no guarantees in war, I expect that we will make significant headway in the next 18-24 months. 18-24 months

The New York Times

By visiting an office that few of them have likely paid much attention to — central purchasing — governors and mayors could make significant headway in plugging their deficits.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

In the process, Democrats and unions have made significant headway.

The Guardian - Opinion

In just a few months, she made significant headway.

The New Yorker

Over the past three decades, theorists and researchers alike have made significant headway in understanding how working memory functions.

The New York Times - Magazine

Chinese music and theater, traditional and modern, has made significant headway in New York over the last decade, with an influx of composers, performers and directors.

The New York Times - Arts

Gen. William Westmoreland, the senior commander, did not see it that way; by his primary metric — the body count — American and allied forces were making significant headway.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "make significant headway" when you want to emphasize that noticeable progress has been achieved in a particular endeavor, especially when overcoming obstacles.

Common error

Avoid using "make significant headway" to describe a state or condition. This phrase implies active progress; it's more fitting to describe the process of achieving a goal rather than the goal itself.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make significant headway" functions as a verb phrase indicating that considerable progress is being achieved. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically sound and widely used expression. The phrase indicates advancement toward a goal, often in the face of challenges.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Science & Research

3%

Opinion

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "make significant headway" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that indicates considerable progress or advancement. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is widely accepted and suitable for use in various contexts, especially in news and media, science, and formal business settings. When using this phrase, focus on conveying active progress rather than describing static states, and consider using alternative phrases like "achieve considerable progress" or "make substantial progress" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

achieve considerable progress

Emphasizes the accomplishment of progress but uses 'achieve' instead of 'make' and 'considerable' instead of 'significant'.

make substantial progress

Replaces 'significant' with 'substantial', highlighting the magnitude of the progress.

gain considerable ground

Uses a different metaphor, 'gain ground', to suggest advancement.

advance considerably

Focuses on the act of advancing, replacing 'make headway' with a single verb phrase.

make marked improvement

Shifts the focus to improvement rather than general progress.

make notable strides

Uses 'notable strides' to emphasize the significant steps taken forward.

make great strides

Emphasizes the size of the steps taken toward progress.

move forward significantly

Focuses on the forward movement and replaces 'make headway' with a more literal description.

make a major breakthrough

Suggests a more dramatic or sudden advancement than 'headway'.

attain significant development

This focuses on development, and suggests a different stage of achievement.

FAQs

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

You can use "make significant headway" to describe progress in a project, negotiation, or any other endeavor where you're moving closer to your goal. For example: "After months of negotiation, we began to make significant headway in the peace talks."

What are some alternatives to "make significant headway"?

You can use alternatives like "achieve considerable progress", "make substantial progress", or "gain considerable ground" depending on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to say "make significant headway" or "make significant progress"?

Both "make significant headway" and "make significant progress" are appropriate and often interchangeable. "Make significant headway" suggests overcoming obstacles, while "make significant progress" focuses more broadly on advancement.

What's the difference between "make significant headway" and "make a major breakthrough"?

"Make significant headway" implies steady progress, while "make a major breakthrough" suggests a sudden, important discovery or advancement.