trailing considerably

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trailing considerably" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is significantly behind or lagging in comparison to something else. Example: "The team's performance has been impressive, but they are still trailing considerably behind the leading competitors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

He'd creep off into the dense underbrush, binoculars at the ready, trailing considerably less graceful visitors through the vines.

The New York Times - Travel

"They're really beautiful". He'd creep off into the dense underbrush, binoculars at the ready, trailing considerably less graceful visitors through the vines.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Twitter penetration still trails considerably.

The New York Times

Android isn't far behind in smartphones, with 77percentt of interest, but trails considerably on tablets with 64percentt.

TechCrunch

But as you can see from the graph, it marks one area at least where Google used to trail considerably but is now catching up.

TechCrunch

Finally, changes in the angle of attack of the plate and in the sweep angle of the trailing edge considerably modify the radiated sound, leading to significant reductions of the acoustic intensity in some directions.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

In a survey completed by The Times on Thursday, after the magazine had gone to press, Michael Bloomberg, who trailed Mark Green considerably in previous polls, closed the gap to five percentage points.

The New York Times

That has trailed off considerably as shares of Etsy are down around an alarming 8% in after-hours trading.

TechCrunch

Moreover, the disposition of the piles is more important on the tension side, as the trailing piles carried considerably lower loads than the leading piles.

Applied Ocean Research

Poleward movements in latitude or increases in altitude have been observed in several geographic regions and for many species' ranges (for example, [ 3- 6]) but the effects of contemporary climatic change at the so-called trailing edges have received considerably less attention.

BMC Biology

Despite its growth, however, the overall Web news audience still considerably trails the number of viewers and readers of the older media.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "trailing considerably", ensure the context clearly defines what is being compared. For instance, specify the metrics or benchmarks against which something is trailing.

Common error

Avoid using "trailing considerably" in very casual or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "far behind" or "lagging" may be more appropriate for everyday conversation.

Linguistic Context

"Trailing considerably" acts as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the extent to which something is lagging or behind. As Ludwig indicates, it describes the manner or degree of trailing. Examples in Ludwig show it used to describe market share and athletic performance.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "trailing considerably" is an adverbial phrase used to describe something that is significantly behind. While grammatically correct and understandable, as noted by Ludwig, its usage is relatively rare and more appropriate for formal writing, news reporting, or technical contexts. It is less common in casual conversation. Alternatives include "lagging significantly" or "falling far behind". The phrase is commonly found in News & Media and scientific contexts. Be mindful of overuse in informal situations, opting for simpler language when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lagging significantly

Replaces "trailing" with "lagging" and "considerably" with "significantly", maintaining the same meaning but with different wording.

falling far behind

Uses "falling" instead of "trailing" and "far behind" instead of "considerably", emphasizing the extent of the gap.

significantly behind

Focuses on the state of being behind, using "significantly" to highlight the degree.

substantially lagging

Employs "substantially" in place of "considerably", providing a more formal tone.

considerably behind

Reverses the order, placing emphasis on being behind, but keeps the same core meaning and intensity.

substantially in arrears

Replaces "trailing" with a more formal term "in arrears", suitable in business contexts.

notably behind

Uses "notably" instead of "considerably", which provides a slightly understated tone.

markedly lagging

Employs "markedly" in place of "considerably", conveying a clear and evident difference.

distinctly behind

Uses "distinctly" instead of "considerably", focusing on the clarity of the difference.

materially behind

A more formal alternative, using "materially" to highlight the significance of the gap.

FAQs

How can I use "trailing considerably" in a sentence?

You can use "trailing considerably" to indicate that something is significantly behind in comparison to something else. For example, "In tablet market share, Android is "trailing considerably" behind iOS."

What phrases are similar to "trailing considerably"?

Similar phrases include "lagging significantly", "falling far behind", or "significantly behind". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "trailing considerably" or "considerably trailing"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "trailing considerably" is more common. "Considerably trailing" is less frequently used and might sound slightly less natural.

In what kind of writing is "trailing considerably" most appropriate?

"Trailing considerably" is suitable for formal writing, news reporting, and analytical contexts where precise language is valued. It is less common in informal or conversational settings.