substantially ahead of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantially ahead of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a significant lead or advantage over something or someone in a particular context, such as performance, progress, or competition. Example: "The company is substantially ahead of its competitors in terms of technology and innovation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Substantially ahead of schedule.

The New York Times

The accounts for donations raised in 2013 show the party's income as £33.3m, substantially ahead of the Conservatives' £25.4m.

The Guardian - Opinion

Despite a new, aggressive antinarcotics program and an increase in quality-of-life summonses, New York City's murder rate is still running substantially ahead of last year's.

The New York Times

However, its "Delight-o-meter -- a section on its Web site that tracks holiDelight-o-meter --Delight-o-meter --r to be substantially ahead of lasection.

The New York Times

Aides said that he was up set last week when a "private" poll was made public indicating that he was "substantially ahead" of his Democratic rival.

The New York Times

The convention period was Mitt Romney's best chance to pull substantially ahead of the president and set himself up to pull away.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

But the City was buoyed by French Connection's wholesale revenues being "well ahead of the level last year", prompting Numis analysts to substantially mark up their pre-tax profit forecast to £5.3m for this financial year.

Independent

HSBC, which has a long history in the region, bought its first stake in Ping An in 2002, well ahead of the company's I.P.O., and later increased its stake substantially.

The New York Times

While she is still well ahead of Mr. McBride in polls, he has closed the gap somewhat in recent weeks and has raised substantially more money.

The New York Times

This was achieved well ahead of regulation.

Environmental Health Perspectives

And when you figure the tax bill on frequent trades, you could come out substantially ahead.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "substantially ahead of" to clearly indicate a significant lead or advantage, ensuring your audience understands the magnitude of the difference. For example, instead of saying "the project is ahead of schedule", specify "the project is substantially ahead of schedule" to highlight the progress.

Common error

While "substantially ahead of" is versatile, avoid overusing it in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for simpler phrases like "well ahead" or "far ahead" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantially ahead of" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or verb, indicating a significant degree of advancement or superiority. As evidenced by Ludwig, it adds emphasis to the extent of being 'ahead'.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "substantially ahead of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that indicates a significant lead or advantage. According to Ludwig AI, it's deemed correct and usable. It is most commonly found in news and media, scientific, and formal business contexts, maintaining a neutral to professional tone. While it effectively emphasizes a considerable difference, it should be used judiciously in informal settings. Alternatives like "significantly in advance of" or "considerably further along than" can provide similar meaning with slight variations in formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significantly in advance of

Replaces "substantially" with "significantly" and "ahead" with "in advance", slightly altering the tone but maintaining the core meaning.

considerably further along than

Uses "considerably" for emphasis and "further along" to indicate progress, offering a less direct synonym.

well in front of

A more informal alternative, using "well" and "in front" to convey a clear lead.

noticeably exceeding

Focuses on exceeding a certain level or expectation, changing the structure while keeping the sense of advantage.

markedly surpassing

A more formal option using "markedly" and "surpassing" to indicate a clear difference in achievement.

comfortably exceeding

Highlights the ease with which something is ahead, adding a nuance of comfort.

substantially exceeding the pace of

Emphasizes the rate of advancement, specifying that the pace is significantly higher.

considerably outperforming

Focuses on performance, indicating a significant difference in results.

significantly exceeding expectations compared to

Highlights exceeding expectations and makes a comparison, adding specificity.

clearly outpacing

Uses a dynamic verb to indicate moving faster than something else.

FAQs

What does "substantially ahead of" mean?

The phrase "substantially ahead of" indicates a significant lead or advantage over something or someone. It suggests that the difference is considerable and noteworthy.

What are some alternatives to "substantially ahead of"?

You can use alternatives like "significantly in advance of", "considerably further along than", or "well in front of" depending on the context.

How can I use "substantially ahead of" in a sentence?

You can use "substantially ahead of" to compare progress, performance, or position. For example: "The company's profits are substantially ahead of last year's."

Is "considerably ahead of" the same as "substantially ahead of"?

Yes, "considerably ahead of" is very similar in meaning to "substantially ahead of". Both phrases indicate a significant difference or advantage. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations.