this lead to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this lead to" is not correct in English; it should be "this led to." You can use it when describing a cause-and-effect relationship in the past.
Example: "The heavy rainfall caused flooding, and this led to significant damage in the area."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Will this lead to better service?

The New Yorker

Will this lead to GM babies?

Independent

What does this lead to?

The New Yorker

Would this lead to barriers?

The Guardian

Would this lead to confusion, even incest?

The New York Times - Magazine

Did this lead to his offence?

The Guardian

How did this lead to the monograph?

The Guardian - Books

Would this lead to lower interest rates?

The New York Times

Does this lead to good policymaking?

The New Yorker

Could this lead to a professional development drought?

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Will this lead to increased AI safety risks?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct past tense form "led" instead of "lead" when indicating that something caused a subsequent event. For example, use "This led to the project's success" not "This lead to the project's success".

Common error

Avoid using the base form of the verb "lead" when the past tense "led" is required. This mistake typically occurs due to oversight, but can easily be corrected by proofreading your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this lead to" is intended to function as a causal connector, linking a preceding event or situation to its consequence. However, due to the incorrect verb form, it fails to properly execute this function. Use "this led to" instead.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this lead to" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "this led to". It's intended to connect a cause with its effect. Ludwig AI analysis indicates that the incorrect form is a grammatical error. Use alternatives such as "this resulted in", "this caused", or "this brought about" for correct and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this led to

Corrects the verb tense to the past tense, making it grammatically correct.

this resulted in

Changes the verb to a more standard expression of consequence.

this caused

Uses a more direct verb to indicate causation.

this brought about

Emphasizes the action of causing something to happen.

this gave rise to

Suggests the beginning or emergence of something as a result.

this contributed to

Indicates that something was a factor in the outcome, but not necessarily the sole cause.

this was responsible for

Assigns accountability for the resulting event or situation.

consequently

A single word adverb expressing the result of a previous action.

as a result

A common phrase used to indicate an outcome or effect.

therefore

A formal adverb expressing a logical conclusion or consequence.

FAQs

How do I correct the phrase "this lead to" in a sentence?

The grammatically correct form is "this led to", using the past tense of the verb "lead". For example, instead of "This lead to the problem", use "This led to the problem".

What can I say instead of "this lead to"?

You can use alternatives like "this resulted in", "this caused", or "this brought about" depending on the specific context.

What is the difference between "this lead to" and "this led to"?

"This lead to" is grammatically incorrect as it uses the base form of the verb. "This led to" is the correct past tense form, indicating that something caused a subsequent event.

Is "this lead to" ever correct in a sentence?

No, "this lead to" is never grammatically correct. You should always use "this led to" to correctly express a cause-and-effect relationship in the past.