making substantial headway

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "making substantial headway" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe progress or advancement in a particular task or project. Example: "After several weeks of hard work, we are finally making substantial headway on the new software development."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

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

"We're making substantial headway," he said, compared to what he saw on his last trip there in January 2010.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"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

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

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

Indeed, animal rights groups like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have made substantial headway in their fight against what they call animal abuse, and they attribute their success to getting personal with opponents.

The New York Times

C8 Women Gain in Silicon Valley A survey shows that women have made substantial headway in Silicon Valley and that career optimism is high and the percentage of female electrical engineers is four times the national figure.

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

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and Foreign Minister Igor S. Ivanov of Russia said today that they had made substantial headway toward negotiating an agreement on reducing nuclear weapons that could be signed by President Bush and President Vladimir V. Putin at a summit meeting in Russia in three weeks.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "making substantial headway" to emphasize significant progress, especially when the effort involved is considerable. It adds a tone of accomplishment and forward momentum.

Common error

Avoid using "making substantial headway" in very casual conversations or informal writing. While grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal or stilted in such settings. Opt for simpler alternatives like "making good progress" or "getting somewhere".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making substantial headway" functions as a verbal phrase indicating progress or advancement. It is commonly used to describe the positive outcome of efforts toward a specific goal. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and provides several examples in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "making substantial headway" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that signifies significant progress. Ludwig AI validates this, showing its usage in varied contexts, from news reports to scientific articles. While appropriate for professional and neutral settings, avoid overusing it in casual conversations where it may sound overly formal. Alternatives include "achieving considerable progress" or "gaining significant ground". By understanding its usage and context, you can effectively incorporate "making substantial headway" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

achieving considerable progress

Replaces "making" with "achieving" and "substantial headway" with "considerable progress", maintaining a similar meaning.

gaining significant ground

Uses a different metaphor ("gaining ground") to convey the idea of progress, with "significant" replacing "substantial".

making significant strides

Employs "significant strides" instead of "substantial headway", indicating notable progress.

making marked improvements

Focuses on the improvements being made, with "marked" indicating noticeable advancement.

advancing considerably

Uses a verb-centered construction to express the idea of considerable advancement.

progressing significantly

Similar to "advancing considerably" but uses the verb "progressing".

moving forward effectively

Emphasizes the effective nature of the progress being made.

realizing tangible gains

Highlights the concrete and measurable results of the progress.

seeing demonstrable advancement

Focuses on the visible and provable nature of the advancement.

achieving notable success

Indicates that the progress is leading to a successful outcome.

FAQs

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

You can use "making substantial headway" to describe significant progress in a task or project. For example, "The team is "making substantial headway" in developing the new software.".

What can I say instead of "making substantial headway"?

You can use alternatives like "achieving considerable progress", "gaining significant ground", or "making significant strides", depending on the specific context.

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

Both "making substantial headway" and "making significant progress" are correct and convey a similar meaning. "Making substantial headway" might sound slightly more formal or emphatic.

What is the difference between "making headway" and "making substantial headway"?

"Making headway" simply means making progress. "Making substantial headway" implies making significant progress. The addition of "substantial" emphasizes the degree of advancement.