taking steps towards

USAGE SUMMARY

"taking steps towards" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means making progress or moving closer to a goal or desired outcome. Example: "The company is taking steps towards expanding its market reach by launching a new product line."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We're definitely taking steps towards that direction".

The Guardian - Tech

South-East Asia's economies are taking steps towards recovery.

The Economist

Also show that you are taking steps towards gaining that qualification.

The Guardian

The opposition leader praised President Thein Sein's "sincerity" in taking steps towards reform.

Independent

This type of business model is not prevalent in fashion but many are taking steps towards it.

The Guardian

His movement, and his goals, are difficult to drop now that Kak?s taking steps towards recovery.

The New York Times

Trudeau began taking steps towards a political career after this and was elected as an MP for Papineau in 2008.

Independent

Monitoring is crucial, as is the work that this monitoring enables ACE to do with the organisations it funds on taking steps towards equality.

The Guardian

Put technology to work for people and you're already taking steps towards that inspirational near-future aspiration: creating an operating system for our lives.

The Guardian

Since its September 2011 launch by eight governments (including the United States) and nine civil society organisations, 55 countries have committed to taking steps towards openness through OGP.

The Guardian

What about immigrants, Muslim or otherwise, taking steps towards Britain such as learning English and encouraging their children to engage in education and raising their aspirations?

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "taking steps towards", clearly state the specific actions being taken and the desired outcome to provide context and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "taking steps towards" when only minimal or initial actions have been taken, as it can create a false impression of significant progress. Ensure the actions genuinely contribute to the stated goal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "taking steps towards" functions as a verbal phrase indicating action and direction. It signifies that actions are being performed with the intention of achieving a specific goal. Ludwig AI confirms this is a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "taking steps towards" is a widely used and grammatically sound way to describe actions being done to achieve a goal. According to Ludwig AI, it is a correct and usable phrase in written English. Its usage spans diverse contexts, particularly in news, science, and formal business settings. While versatile, it's crucial to use it judiciously, ensuring that the actions genuinely reflect meaningful progress. Alternatives such as "making progress toward" or "advancing toward" offer nuanced variations. The phrase is considered neutral in register, rendering it suitable for varied audiences. The insights provided here aim to help writers effectively incorporate "taking steps towards" in their communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

taking strides towards

Replaces "steps" with "strides", suggesting a more significant or confident advancement.

taking actions towards

Substitutes "steps" with "actions", highlighting the active implementation of measures.

taking footsteps towards

Uses "footsteps" instead of "steps", potentially emphasizing a cautious or deliberate approach.

making progress toward

Employs "making progress" which is a general indicator of advancement, omitting the explicit mention of "steps".

advancing toward

Uses a single verb "advancing" to replace the phrase, giving a more concise feel.

working toward

Focuses on the effort being applied with "working" rather than the specific movements.

moving closer to

Indicates nearness to a goal without specifying the method of approach.

proceeding toward

Implies a continuation or advancement with "proceeding", often in a formal context.

endeavoring to

Emphasizes effort and intention, replacing "taking steps" with a single verb focused on striving.

pursuing

Highlights the act of following or striving after something, simplifying the original phrase.

FAQs

How can I use "taking steps towards" in a sentence?

You can use "taking steps towards" to describe actions that contribute to a larger goal, such as, "The company is "taking steps towards" reducing its carbon footprint by investing in renewable energy".

What are some alternatives to "taking steps towards"?

Alternatives include "making progress toward", "working toward", or "advancing toward" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "taking steps towards" formal or informal?

"Taking steps towards" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, it's important to consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing.

What's the difference between "taking steps towards" and "achieving"?

"Taking steps towards" indicates progress or movement in a certain direction, while "achieving" implies the successful completion of a goal. "Taking steps towards" is about the process, while "achieving" is about the result.