making headway toward

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "making headway toward" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing progress or advancement towards a goal or objective. Example: "The team is making headway toward completing the project ahead of schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Both are making headway toward a possible opening in the Oscar category, though they may face Academy competition from Emmanuelle Riva in "Amour".

The New York Times

Clearly NAL has been making headway toward that goal, and it isn't doing so alone: witness the elections this past year of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the emergence of the Green Democrats, and other recent developments.

Columbia University

Geiger said the university would do so, but only if Clarett met several criteria, including making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree, not breaking any other N.C.A.A. rules and making headway toward what Geiger called "personal growth".

The New York Times - Sports

The oil law — which would govern how oil fields are developed and managed — is one of several benchmarks that the Bush administration has been pressing the Iraqis to meet as a sign that they are making headway toward creating an effective government.

The New York Times

Iranian scientists and nongovernmental organizations are speaking out about the crises and, in some cases, making headway toward solving them.

Science Magazine

Georgia is making headway toward this vision under Governor Deal's leadership, who has served as Georgia's governor since 2011.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

She could no longer make headway toward land against the current.

The New York Times - Magazine

A European Union summit held in late October 2013 failed to make headway toward more coordination of economic policies.

Harvard University

The agreement on new talks comes six months after Mr. Vajpayee and his diplomats made headway toward resolving a 45-year border dispute with China.

The New York Times

To woo one, Robinson needs to reproduce his indoor times in outdoor meets and start to make headway toward his Olympic dream.

The New York Times - Sports

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi Parliament again deferred a vote on the budget on Thursday as political blocs argued about how to divide financing among the provinces, but legislators did make headway toward approving a law that would outline provincial powers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "making headway toward" when you want to emphasize forward movement and gradual progress toward a specific goal. It is effective in both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid replacing "making headway toward" with overly complex or obscure synonyms just for the sake of variety. Simpler and more direct language often communicates your meaning more effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making headway toward" functions as a verb phrase indicating progress in a specific direction. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples across diverse contexts, reflecting its role in expressing forward movement toward a defined objective. As can be seen in the examples, this phrase is employed to describe advancements in politics, science, and personal finance.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

21%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "making headway toward" effectively communicates progress and advancement toward a specific goal. Ludwig AI analysis indicates that it is grammatically correct and suitable for diverse contexts, primarily appearing in News & Media, Academia, and Formal & Business. While not exceedingly common, its neutral register makes it a versatile choice for expressing forward movement across various fields. Remember to use the phrase when you want to emphasize consistent advancement toward a target, and be mindful of not replacing it with synonyms that could obscure the clarity of your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

progressing towards

Focuses more directly on the act of advancing, slightly more literal.

advancing toward

Highlights the forward movement, can imply a more active push.

gaining ground on

Emphasizes overcoming obstacles, suggesting a competitive aspect.

moving closer to

Focuses on reducing the distance to a goal, more spatial.

getting nearer to

Similar to moving closer, implies incremental progress.

making progress with

Shifts focus to the activity itself rather than the ultimate goal, more general.

on track to

Indicates adherence to a planned course, emphasizing planned progress.

developing in relation to

Highlights the contextual development of the action, more formal.

getting somewhere with

More informal, emphasizing achievement of any progress.

finding success in

Highlights a more substantial advancement and good results, focusing more on results than the process.

FAQs

What does "making headway toward" mean?

The phrase "making headway toward" means making progress or advancing in the direction of a specific goal or objective. It implies that some, but not necessarily complete, progress has been achieved.

How can I use "making headway toward" in a sentence?

You can use "making headway toward" to describe advancements or improvements in various contexts. For example: "The team is "making headway toward" completing the project on time" or "Scientists are "making headway toward" finding a cure for the disease".

What are some alternatives to "making headway toward"?

Some alternatives to "making headway toward" include "making progress toward", "advancing toward", "progressing towards", or "gaining ground on", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "making headway toward" or "making headway with"?

While both are grammatically correct, "making headway toward" is generally used when referring to a specific goal or destination, while "making headway with" is used in a more general sense of making progress in an activity or endeavor.