to advance

USAGE SUMMARY

"to advance" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a verb, meaning to move forward in a purposeful way, either physically or in terms of progress. For example, "The company is making strides to advance their technology."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some fail to advance.

The New York Times - Arts

It's important to advance.

The New York Times - Sports

You want to advance.

The New York Times

Andrew's career continued to advance.

The New Yorker

The Houthis continue to advance.

The Economist

My employees want to advance.

The New York Times

All failed to advance.

The Guardian

Ghana needs only a tie to advance.

The New York Times - Sports

Both Spanish teams are favored to advance.

The New York Times

"They have the means to advance".

The New York Times

He is almost allergic to advance planning.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to advance" when you want to indicate forward movement, progress, or promotion in a general sense. Consider more specific verbs like 'promote' or 'accelerate' if you want to be more precise.

Common error

While "to advance" is acceptable in formal writing, avoid overusing it. Vary your vocabulary by using synonyms like "to promote", "to further", or "to develop" to enhance clarity and avoid monotony.

Linguistic Context

The infinitive phrase "to advance" primarily functions as a verb complement or an adverbial modifier indicating purpose. Ludwig AI examples show it completing the meaning of verbs like 'want', 'continue', 'need', or expressing the reason for an action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

23%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

14%

Science Magazine

3%

SEP

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to advance" is a versatile infinitive phrase widely used to convey forward movement, progress, or promotion across a variety of contexts. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and very common, especially in News & Media, Scientific, and Business publications. While generally neutral to formal, varying vocabulary by using synonyms like "to promote", "to further", or "to develop" can improve writing clarity and prevent overuse. Understanding these nuances allows for more effective and precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to move forward

Emphasizes the act of physical or metaphorical progression.

to make progress

Highlights the gradual improvement or development in a specific area.

to further develop

Focuses on enhancing or expanding something already in existence.

to promote

Suggests the act of raising something to a higher position or rank.

to facilitate

Implies making something easier or more likely to happen.

to encourage

Focuses on inspiring or giving support to move forward.

to foster

Suggests nurturing or cultivating growth in a specific area.

to accelerate

Emphasizes speeding up the progress or development of something.

to push forward

Highlights the act of applying force or effort to continue moving ahead.

to improve

Indicates making something better than it currently is.

FAQs

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

You can use "to advance" to show progression or promotion. For example, "The company is working hard "to advance" its market share" or "She is determined "to advance" her career".

What are some alternatives to "to advance"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "to move forward", "to make progress", or "to further develop" as alternatives to "to advance".

Which is correct: "to advance" or "advancing"?

Both "to advance" and "advancing" can be correct, but they serve different grammatical functions. "To advance" is an infinitive form, while "advancing" is a gerund or present participle. The choice depends on the sentence structure.

What is the difference between "to advance" and "to proceed"?

"To advance" often implies making progress or improving, while "to proceed" simply means to continue or move forward. You would "to advance" a project to improve it, but "to proceed" with a task to complete it.