pioneering step

USAGE SUMMARY

'pioneering step' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something groundbreaking or innovative, especially when taking a first step into a new venture. For example, "The team's decision to invest in a new technology was a pioneering step for the company and ultimately led to its success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

That is when a new New York State law -- praised by advocates as a pioneering step against predatory lending -- goes into effect.

The New York Times

Space travel is back in people's hearts and minds – fuelled by recent Hollywood blockbusters such as The Martian and this exciting next pioneering step into the unknown.

The Guardian

That would hardly qualify as a "pioneering step".

The New York Times

The G.E. development, however, could be that pioneering step, according to analysts and experts.

The New York Times - Tech

Five years ago, the faculty here at Dickinson, one of America's oldest liberal arts colleges, took the pioneering step of eliminating the SAT requirement for admission.

The New York Times

"It caused the other retailers to say, 'Hmmm, what did I miss?' " Since Disney's pioneering step, several national retailers have opened on 125th Street, and more are coming.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

New York has once again take aggressive, pioneering steps towards eliminating the greatest public health menace of our time, and we have a safer, healthier community because of it.

HuffPost

The RSC have taken pioneering steps with Prospect and ChemSpider.

Biochemical Journal

One such programme is the School Fee Abolition Initiative, which enables countries that have taken pioneering steps to eliminate fees and other costs to share their experiences and best practices with countries considering a similar move.

Unicef

His attention turned from primates to humans, and he took pioneering steps in what was to become evolutionary psychology.

The Guardian

When you think of the body of work of the man from the emerging "Show Boat" and what that did and how it integrated the first really great novel into a musical... these are huge pioneering steps.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pioneering step" to describe an action that is not only new but also sets a precedent for future developments. For example, 'The company's investment in renewable energy was a "pioneering step" towards sustainability.'

Common error

Avoid using "pioneering step" for actions that are merely incremental improvements. This phrase is best reserved for truly groundbreaking initiatives, as overuse dilutes its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pioneering step" functions as a noun phrase that characterizes an action or decision as being innovative and groundbreaking. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in a variety of written contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "pioneering step" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that signifies an innovative and groundbreaking action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is found primarily in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts, indicating a neutral to professional register. While not as common as other expressions, "pioneering step" is a powerful way to highlight novelty and significance. When using it, ensure the context truly reflects an action that sets a new precedent, rather than a simple incremental improvement. Alternatives like "innovative initiative" or "groundbreaking measure" can provide nuanced variations, depending on the intended emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

innovative initiative

Replaces "step" with "initiative", focusing on the proactive and inventive aspect.

groundbreaking measure

Substitutes "pioneering" with "groundbreaking" and "step" with "measure", emphasizing the revolutionary aspect of the action.

trailblazing action

Replaces "pioneering" with "trailblazing", highlighting the leading and precedent-setting quality.

vanguard move

Uses "vanguard" instead of "pioneering", connoting leadership and innovation in a specific field.

original endeavor

Focuses on the novelty and uniqueness of the undertaking, replacing "pioneering step".

revolutionary approach

Highlights the transformative nature of the method taken.

first-of-its-kind effort

Emphasizes the uniqueness and originality of the undertaking.

novel advancement

Focuses on the new and progressive nature of the development.

leading-edge development

Highlights the advanced and innovative characteristics of the progress.

unprecedented action

Stresses the novelty and lack of prior occurrence of the measure.

FAQs

How can I use "pioneering step" in a sentence?

"Pioneering step" is used to describe an action that is innovative and sets a new precedent. For instance, "The development of the vaccine was a "pioneering step" in combating the disease".

What are some alternatives to "pioneering step"?

Alternatives include "innovative initiative", "groundbreaking measure", or "trailblazing action", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "pioneering step" formal or informal language?

"Pioneering step" is suitable for both formal and neutral contexts, such as business reports, news articles, and academic papers. Its appropriateness depends more on the context than the phrase itself.

What makes an action qualify as a "pioneering step"?

For an action to be considered a "pioneering step", it should be genuinely innovative, setting a new standard or direction in its field, rather than being a simple improvement on existing practices.