make substantial headway

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make substantial 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 weeks of hard work, we finally began to make substantial headway on the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 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

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

Unlike the personal computer market, Microsoft's attempts to control the set-top box market, the Web-appliance market and handheld computer business have failed to make substantial headway.

Forbes

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

Although the growth of its core business -- search advertising -- was strong, it was not enough to assuage investors who remain concerned that Google is a one-product company that has yet to make substantial headway in display and mobile advertising.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Participants in last year's program made substantial headway in a number of areas.

Princeton University

"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

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

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

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "make substantial headway", ensure the context clearly indicates the area in which progress is being made. For example, "The team made substantial headway in developing the new software." This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "make substantial headway" when the progress is only incremental or minor. Using it in such contexts can exaggerate achievements and mislead the audience. Instead, reserve it for situations where the advancements are truly significant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make substantial headway" functions as a verbal phrase indicating that significant progress or advancement is being achieved in a particular area or task. It is often used to highlight notable achievements or improvements. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in English writing.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make substantial headway" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that conveys significant progress or advancement. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While not extremely common, the phrase appears across various contexts, including news, science, and formal communications. Related phrases include "achieve significant progress" and "gain considerable ground", each offering slightly different nuances. When employing this phrase, clarity in defining the area of progress is key. The most common mistake is overstating incremental progress as "substantial". Overall, this phrase is a valuable addition to a writer's toolkit for accurately depicting notable achievements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Achieve significant progress

Focuses on accomplishment and notable advancement.

Gain considerable ground

Emphasizes territorial or metaphorical gains.

Make significant strides

Highlights the steps taken to advance.

Make notable advancements

Highlights the making of important advancements.

Make considerable progress

Focuses on the amount of progress achieved.

Advance significantly

Focuses on the act of advancing to a considerable degree.

Move forward substantially

Emphasizes the forward movement and the magnitude of it.

Make marked improvements

Highlights the improvements made that are easily noticeable.

Achieve major breakthroughs

Focuses on obtaining results that are considerably impactful.

Make great gains

Focuses on the gains achieved.

FAQs

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

Use "make substantial headway" to describe significant progress. For example, "The researchers "made substantial headway" in cancer treatment research this year."

What are some alternatives to "make substantial headway"?

Alternatives include "achieve significant progress", "gain considerable ground", or "make significant strides". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "make substantial headway" or "make significant progress"?

Both "make substantial headway" and "make significant progress" are acceptable. "Make substantial headway" might imply overcoming obstacles, while "make significant progress" is a more general statement of advancement.

What's the difference between "making headway" and "making substantial headway"?

"Making headway" generally means making any progress, whereas "making substantial headway" implies that the progress is significant or noteworthy.