make some headway

USAGE SUMMARY

'make some headway' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a phrase typically used to describe making progress on a task, such as a project. For example, "We were able to make some headway on the presentation today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"You can make some headway".

The New York Times

Yet international yacht brands have started to make some headway.

The New York Times

On that, they seemed to make some headway.

The New York Times

"Then we'll have a chance to really make some headway".

The New York Times

LSU 34 – Florida 11 Florida is starting to make some headway finally.

The New York Times

So the revenue side isn't that bad; we do make some headway on unstarving the beast.

The New York Times

They'll launch their campaign next month, and could make some headway.

The Guardian - Business

There's not much chance, but the Simpsons stamps make some headway.

The New York Times - Arts

Plenty of people (including Nokia) consider it Nokia's last best effort to make some headway in the American smartphone market.

The New York Times

"I definitely think he has an opportunity to make some headway in a Democratic area," she said.

The New York Times

The two sides did make some headway, agreeing on guidelines, grandly called the "principles of strategic stability," for future talks.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "make some headway" when you want to emphasize overcoming initial challenges or resistance to achieve progress. It's particularly effective when describing the start of a complex task.

Common error

Avoid using "make some headway" when the progress is substantial or near completion. It's best used for describing initial advancements, not final results.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make some headway" functions as a verbal phrase, typically used within a clause as part of the predicate. It describes the action of initiating or achieving some progress. Ludwig examples show its usage in various contexts, such as business, politics, and sports.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

6%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make some headway" is a versatile expression used to describe initial progress or advancement on a task, often implying the overcoming of obstacles. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely accepted in written English. It is commonly found in news and media sources, indicating its broad applicability across different contexts. While semantically similar phrases like "make some progress" or "gain ground" can be used as alternatives, "make some headway" specifically emphasizes the initial effort and breakthrough. To ensure effective usage, it is best to employ the phrase when describing early stages of advancement and avoid overstating the magnitude of progress.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make some progress

Indicates advancement, similar to "make some headway" but emphasizes overall advancement rather than overcoming initial resistance.

make strides

Indicates significant progress, suggesting more rapid advancement than "make some headway".

gain ground

Suggests a gradual advancement, often against opposition, similar to "make some headway".

make an inroad

Implies overcoming obstacles or resistance to achieve progress.

advance slightly

Emphasizes a small degree of progress, while "make some headway" can imply a more significant initial push.

achieve some advancement

More formal and highlights the achievement of advancement.

move forward a bit

Focuses on the direction of movement, suggesting a slight advancement.

push forward a little

Focuses on effort and direction of movement.

make a start

Highlights the beginning of progress, whereas "make some headway" implies more than just starting.

get somewhere

Indicates achieving some result or progress, though more general than "make some headway".

FAQs

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

You can use "make some headway" to describe the beginning of a project, for example: "We hope to "make some headway" on the fundraising campaign this week."

What can I say instead of "make some headway"?

You can use alternatives like "make some progress", "gain ground", or "advance slightly" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "making some headway"?

Yes, "making some headway" is the present participle form and can be used in continuous tenses, such as "We are "making some headway" on the project."

What's the difference between "make some headway" and "make strides"?

"Make some headway" implies initial progress or overcoming resistance, while "make strides" suggests significant and rapid progress.