spearhead the effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "spearhead the effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to leading or initiating a project, campaign, or initiative. Example: "She was chosen to spearhead the effort to improve community engagement in our organization."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

The company recently hired a senior cable-television executive to spearhead the effort.

The Economist

Zilberman helped spearhead the effort to establish the program on campus.

University of California, Berkeley

A PANEL called the Hudson River Congressional caucus has been formed to spearhead the effort.

The New York Times

Daschle would also receive a White House office, Obama said, so he could spearhead the effort to fix America's healthcare system.

The New Yorker

Mr. Brody also helped spearhead the effort to extradite Gen. Augusto Pinochet, the former Chilean dictator, from Great Britain to stand trial in Spain.

The New York Times

It quickly became clear that organized communication was needed, and the Town and Gown Team was established to spearhead the effort.

MIT Technology Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

They ought to independently spearhead the efforts to combat the rape, harassment, and assault that today plague campuses and scar developing young adults.

Huffington Post

While building up an engaged community; one that likes and shares their own user generated content with you is great, you'll want to spearhead the efforts and guide the story.

Huffington Post

Nicholson's lab at Imperial is spearheading the effort.

The Guardian

Brother number two, 35-year-old Wu Hui, is spearheading the effort.

The Economist

They are spearheading the effort to sequence the human genome by 2005.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "spearhead the effort", ensure that the individual or group genuinely leads and drives the initiative, not just participates in it. The phrase implies a significant degree of influence and responsibility.

Common error

Avoid using "spearhead the effort" when describing someone who merely supports an initiative without actively leading it. This can inflate their role and mislead the audience about the true leadership structure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spearhead the effort" functions as a verbal phrase that emphasizes leadership and initiative. It commonly follows a noun or pronoun, indicating who is leading the action. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a correct and usable term.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "spearhead the effort" is a phrase used to indicate strong leadership and initiation of a task. As Ludwig AI shows, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across diverse sources such as news, media, and academic texts, as long as one genuinely leads and drives the initiative. When using this phrase, ensure the person described is truly leading the effort, not just participating, to avoid misrepresentation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lead the charge

Emphasizes taking initiative and being at the forefront.

drive the initiative

Focuses on providing the impetus and energy to move the initiative forward.

take the helm

Implies assuming control and guiding the direction of the effort.

be at the forefront

Highlights being in a leading position, actively involved in progress.

take the lead

Suggests assuming primary responsibility for guiding and directing the initiative.

head up the project

Implies managing and overseeing the entire project.

champion the cause

Highlights advocating for and promoting the cause vigorously.

coordinate the undertaking

Focuses on organizing and managing the various aspects of the undertaking.

orchestrate the operation

Suggests carefully planning and managing the operation like a conductor.

pilot the scheme

Implies guiding and steering the scheme through its various stages.

FAQs

What does it mean to "spearhead the effort"?

To "spearhead the effort" means to take the leading role in initiating and driving a particular project, campaign, or initiative. It implies being at the forefront and actively guiding the process.

What can I say instead of "spearhead the effort"?

You can use alternatives like "lead the charge", "drive the initiative", or "take the lead" depending on the specific context.

Is "spearhead the effort" formal or informal?

"Spearhead the effort" is generally considered neutral in tone and suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding language and the specific audience.

How to use "spearhead the effort" in a sentence?

You can use "spearhead the effort" to describe someone who is leading a project. For example, "She was chosen to "spearhead the effort" to improve community engagement in our organization".