secure an advantage over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "secure an advantage over" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where one party seeks to gain a favorable position or benefit compared to another party. Example: "The company implemented new strategies to secure an advantage over its competitors in the market."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The British military believed that the briefing helped persuade India to buy UK arms and secure an advantage over competitors.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

2 As for Caesar and Antony, on the other hand, they secured an advantage over Lepidus for the moment, because he had not shared the victory with them; yet they were destined ere long to turn against each other.

University of Chicago

Like Ronald Reagan negotiating with François Mitterrand, I used my ignorance to secure an advantage.

The New York Times - Magazine

The G20 spying appears to have been organised for the more mundane purpose of securing an advantage in meetings.

The Guardian

By this means she secured an unassailable advantage over any other claim on direction of the festival's future.

Wikipedia

The Tigers have beaten the Black Cats on three occasions this season, securing a healthy advantage over them in the Premier League survival scrap and, on Sunday, ruining their hopes of a swift return to Wembley.

Independent

To help secure an insider advantage, GCHQ also established a Humint Operations Team (HOT).

The Guardian

By jumping in now they secure a brief market advantage over rival Hearst, which will introduce realistic sub pricing in July.

Forbes

Some, he said, had "espionage units" set up to steal documents to secure a competitive advantage.

The New York Times

Let's look at three ways patents can help companies secure a proprietary advantage.

Harvard Business Review

The oarports were cut at the second strake of the ship, which permitted a higher freeboard than if the oars had been secured by oar locks on the gunwale and offered an advantage over the enemy.

University of Chicago

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "secure an advantage over", ensure the context clearly defines the area in which the advantage is being sought, and who the 'over' refers to.

Common error

Avoid using "secure an advantage over" when the actual advantage gained is minor or insignificant. Choose more nuanced language to reflect the true impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "secure an advantage over" functions as a verbal phrase, often part of a clause within a sentence. It describes the action of gaining a beneficial position relative to someone or something else. As Ludwig AI suggests, it is grammatically correct and can be used in contexts where gaining a favorable position is sought.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "secure an advantage over" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe the act of gaining a favorable position over someone or something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's versatile and appears in various contexts, from news and media to academic and scientific writing. While alternatives like ""gain a competitive edge over"" or "outmaneuver" exist, the original phrase maintains a clear and direct connotation, suitable for both formal and informal settings. Remember to use it judiciously, ensuring the context justifies the pursuit of such an advantage and accurately reflects the degree of dominance achieved.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gain a competitive edge over

Focuses on the competitive aspect, emphasizing outperforming rivals.

establish supremacy over

Indicates a firm and unchallenged control or superiority.

achieve dominance over

Suggests a more complete and lasting superiority.

gain ascendancy over

Highlights the rise to a position of power or influence.

obtain a superior position to

Emphasizes the resulting higher rank or status.

outmaneuver

Highlights the use of strategy and tactics to gain an advantage.

get the better of

Implies winning or outsmarting someone.

get ahead of

A more informal way of saying "secure an advantage over", implying progress.

outstrip

Implies surpassing or exceeding others.

dominate

A shorter, more direct way of expressing complete control.

FAQs

How can I use "secure an advantage over" in a sentence?

You can use "secure an advantage over" to describe actions taken to gain a more favorable position compared to others, such as "The company invested in new technology to "gain a competitive edge over" its rivals."

What are some alternatives to "secure an advantage over"?

Alternatives include "gain a competitive edge over", "achieve dominance over", or "obtain a superior position to", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always appropriate to aim to "secure an advantage over" others?

While striving for improvement is generally positive, constantly seeking to "secure an advantage over" others can sometimes be viewed negatively, especially if it involves unethical practices.

What is the difference between "secure an advantage over" and "gain an edge over"?

"Secure an advantage over" implies a more deliberate and potentially strategic effort to obtain a favorable position, while "gain an edge over" suggests a more subtle or incremental improvement that provides a slight lead.