successive steps

USAGE SUMMARY

'successive steps' is correct and usable in written English.
It means actions taken one after another. You can use it when talking about a series of actions that lead to a desired result, for example: "He took several successive steps in order to complete the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Of course, it sometimes happens that society takes successive steps in one direction.

The New York Times

It consists of several successive steps.

Progress in Biomaterials

The algorithm includes two successive steps.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

The synthetic procedure consists of two successive steps.

European Polymer Journal

On-line tracking is made possible in successive steps.

Journal of Manufacturing Systems

The approach is structured into four successive steps.

Visualization in Engineering

The model estimation is made in three successive steps.

Earth, Planets and Space

Figure 1 displays the whole procedure using 4 successive steps.

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

Signal denoising using DWT requires three successive steps.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Our procedure is implemented in two successive steps.

Journal of Computational Physics

Our results paint a comprehensive picture of features governing successive steps in mammalian meiotic recombination.

Cell

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a process, use "successive steps" to clearly indicate a sequence of actions that must be performed in a specific order. This helps ensure clarity and avoids confusion.

Common error

Avoid using "successive steps" when referring to actions that are not directly related or do not build upon each other. Ensure that each step logically follows the previous one to maintain the correct meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "successive steps" functions as a noun phrase, often used as a subject or object in a sentence. Ludwig AI's analysis of numerous examples confirms its role in describing a sequence of actions or stages in a process.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

95%

News & Media

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "successive steps" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that describes a series of actions performed in a specific order. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and prevalence, particularly in scientific and technical contexts. While alternatives like "sequential stages" or "consecutive phases" exist, "successive steps" remains a clear and effective way to convey a structured process. When using this phrase, ensure that the steps are indeed related and build upon each other to avoid misinterpretation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sequential stages

Replaces "steps" with "stages" and "successive" with "sequential", emphasizing the ordered nature of the process.

subsequent stages

Synonymous replacement emphasizing order and sequence.

consecutive phases

Substitutes "steps" with "phases" and "successive" with "consecutive", highlighting distinct stages that follow one another.

sequential actions

Replaces "steps" with "actions", keeping "sequential" to maintain the sense of order.

iterative stages

Replaces "successive" with "iterative", suggesting a process that repeats or refines over multiple stages.

progressive stages

Highlights the advancement or development happening in each step.

step-by-step process

This emphasizes a clear, ordered approach, highlighting each individual step in the procedure.

orderly procedures

Highlights the structured approach with a specific order.

a series of steps

Uses a more general structure to describe multiple steps without necessarily implying a strict sequence.

following stages

Focuses on the stages that come after a particular point, without necessarily emphasizing the entire sequence.

FAQs

How can I use "successive steps" in a sentence?

You can use "successive steps" to describe a process or procedure that involves a series of actions performed in a specific order. For example, "The experiment involved several "successive steps" to isolate the compound."

What are some alternatives to "successive steps"?

Alternatives include "sequential stages", "consecutive phases", or "iterative stages" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "successive steps forward"?

While not strictly redundant, "steps forward" is often implied when using "successive steps". Using just ""successive steps"" is usually sufficient.

What's the difference between "successive steps" and "simultaneous steps"?

"Successive steps" indicates actions performed one after another, whereas "simultaneous steps" (though less common) would imply actions performed at the same time. These are essentially opposites.