to the fore

USAGE SUMMARY

"to the fore" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to mean in a position of prominence, as in: "The key argument of the paper came to the fore early on."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

One name soon came to the fore.

The Economist

Here his principles came to the fore.

The Economist

Religious authorities come to the fore.

The New Yorker

Instead, blends have moved to the fore.

The New York Times - Food

China and India continually come to the fore.

The New York Times

Martial metaphors are to the fore.

The Guardian - Business

Gut-wrenching bass guitar to the fore?

The Guardian - Music

In "Hungry", guilt is to the fore.

The Guardian - Books

To the fore, predictably, is Tommy Voeckler.

The Guardian - Sport

He never puts himself to the fore".

The Guardian - Books

Symbolic gestures come to the fore instead.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to the fore" when you want to emphasize that something is becoming important, noticeable, or is taking a leading role in a situation. It's suitable for describing the emergence of ideas, people, or issues.

Common error

Avoid confusing "to the fore" with phrases like "for fore". "To the fore" indicates prominence, while "for fore" is not a recognized idiom and would be grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to the fore" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate a direction or result towards prominence or visibility. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to the fore" is a versatile adverbial phrase indicating prominence or increasing importance. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is frequently encountered in news and media, science, and encyclopedia contexts. While suitable for various writing styles, it's most appropriate for neutral to formal registers. Related phrases include "to the forefront" and "into prominence". Avoid confusion with non-idiomatic phrases like "for fore". As the numerous examples provided by Ludwig demonstrate, "to the fore" effectively conveys the emergence of ideas, individuals, or issues.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to the forefront

Focuses more on being at the very front or leading edge, suggesting a position of leadership or advancement.

to the prominence

Focuses on achieving a high level of recognition or importance within a particular field or context.

to the front

Implies a physical position ahead of others, but can also suggest importance or priority.

into prominence

Highlights the act of becoming well-known or important, focusing on the change in status.

to the attention

Emphasizes that something is being noticed or considered, rather than necessarily being in a leading position.

into view

Emphasizes the act of becoming visible or noticeable, often after being hidden or obscured.

to the limelight

Suggests public attention and fame, often associated with celebrity or media coverage.

to the spotlight

Highlights being the center of attention, often associated with scrutiny or public interest.

to the stage

Implies a platform or venue where something is displayed or performed, often in a theatrical or metaphorical sense.

to the manifest

Suggests a clear and obvious appearance or demonstration, often implying a deliberate revelation.

FAQs

How can I use "to the fore" in a sentence?

You can use "to the fore" to indicate that something is becoming prominent or important. For example, "New challenges came "to the fore" during the project."

What is a similar phrase to "to the fore"?

A similar phrase is "to the forefront", which also means becoming prominent or important. You could also use "into prominence".

When is it appropriate to use "to the fore" in writing?

It's appropriate when you want to describe the emergence or increasing importance of something, whether it's an idea, a person, or an issue. It adds a slightly formal tone to your writing.

What's the difference between "to the fore" and "in the background"?

"To the fore" means something is becoming prominent, while "in the background" implies something is not receiving much attention. They are essentially opposites in meaning.