step to step

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'step by step' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a process whereby each step is taken one after another. For example, "We need to approach this project step by step, starting with the most pressing issues and working our way down the list."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

"It gets better from step to step," Zech says.

The New York Times - Magazine

"But it helps to take the first step, to step into these museums, which can be a bit intimidating".

The New York Times

Like "Prelude: Discipline Is Freedom" (1981, revised 1983), which opened the program, it satisfies from step to step.

The New York Times - Arts

Ms. Fairchild, who joined City Ballet last year, has an incisive clear shape in her dancing, which flows, Balanchine style, from step to step with no visible preparation.

The New York Times

From step to step, he shows us every central principle of ballet: the rounded shapes, the long line, the solid center.

The New Yorker

Much like man's best friend, the rough-hewn Filipino movie "The Bet Collector" chases its protagonist from step to step, misery to misery, all but nipping at her heels.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

The complaint explained, This bait and switch was laid out in the Trump University Playbook ("Playbook"), which provided step-to-step directions to Trump University instructors on what to tell students during the seminars.. . .

The New Yorker

It also provided me with step-to-step explanations for registering a company.

Science Magazine

Plastic part designing is a step-to-step process and requires input from a variety of functional teams.

Introduction to Plastics Engineering

To analyze the relation between contralesional and ipsilesional limbs in subjects with stroke during step-to-step transition of walking.

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Older individuals are usually more cautious, walk more slowly, take shorter steps, and exhibit increased step-to-step variability.

Gait & Posture

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "step to step" when describing a progression where each action directly influences the subsequent one. This emphasizes the iterative nature of the process.

Common error

Avoid using "step to step" when a simple sequence of actions is described without interdependencies. Instead, opt for phrases like "in order" or "sequentially" to avoid overemphasizing the connection between steps.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "step to step" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs to describe a process that advances sequentially. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used. The examples provided show its usage in describing improvements, changes, or transitions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

34%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "step to step" is a grammatically correct and frequently used prepositional phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It describes a sequential progression or iterative process, where each action directly influences the next. Found commonly in scientific and news contexts, "step to step" emphasizes incremental development and can be a useful expression to describe gradual change. While generally versatile, it should be used thoughtfully to avoid redundancy in simpler sequences, as using synonyms like "incrementally" or "stage by stage" may be more appropriate in certain circumstances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stage by stage

Implies a gradual progression through defined stages, differing from the continuous flow suggested by "step to step".

incrementally

Focuses on the gradual increase or progression, rather than the individual actions.

bit by bit

Emphasizes the small, gradual nature of the progress, unlike the potentially larger actions in "step to step".

piece by piece

Suggests assembling something through successive additions, rather than a general sequence of actions.

one at a time

Highlights the sequential nature of handling items, differing from a process with interconnected actions.

point by point

Focuses on addressing individual points or arguments in a sequence.

in stages

Suggests a more structured and planned sequence than the general progression of "step to step".

in succession

Implies a series of events following one after another, often with a formal or predetermined order.

gradually

Emphasizes the slow and steady nature of the process, rather than the specific actions taken.

sequentially

Highlights the ordered nature of the process, often in a predetermined or logical manner.

FAQs

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

You can use "step to step" to describe processes where each action is directly related to the next, such as, "The project improved "step to step" as we addressed each challenge."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "step to step"?

Alternatives include "stage by stage", "incrementally", or "bit by bit", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "step-by-step" instead of "step to step"?

"Step-by-step" is an adjective that describes a method, whereas "step to step" describes a progression or iterative process. For example, "a step-by-step guide" versus "the project improved step to step".

What's the difference between "step to step" and "step by step"?

"Step by step" is an adjective, while "step to step" is a prepositional phrase. "Step by step" modifies a noun (e.g., "a step by step guide"), while "step to step" describes how something progresses (e.g., "the process evolved "step to step"").