English Language & Usage Asked on January 12, 2021
I want to find a way to convey the meaning of ‘not being entrenched’ and at the same time maintaining a formal / academic tone. The sentence I’m working with is:
The market share leader board is becoming incrementally _________.
For context: There is reshuffling of ranks at all segments of the leader board now (whereas in the past it was very static/entrenched).
My early attempts included (and reasons why rejected):
What is an academic word that can convey that the leader board is ‘less set in stone’? If there is no one magic word, a phrase would likely suffice.
A leader board reflects changes in the rankings (by whatever means) of its underlying members, competitors, or components. Thus a good word would be
volatile
Subject to rapid and possibly unexpected change.
Correct answer by Xanne on January 12, 2021
A word that seems to be well suited to this is adaptable:
[Merriam-Webster]
: capable of being or becoming adapted// an adaptable tool that combines a screwdriver, a corkscrew, and pliers
// an activities director who's adaptable to any kind of situation
Unlike other synonyms, and in the context of the question, it has a specific sense of being able to "adapt to the times," which connotes a conscious effort towards positive change rather than just a general passive nature of being driven or manipulated by external forces.
Used in the example sentence:
The market share leader board is becoming incrementally adaptable.
Answered by Jason Bassford on January 12, 2021
How about shifting? From M-W:
shift: to go through a change
Your example, slightly edited:
The market-share leaderboard is incrementally shifting.
The combination of incrementally and shifting conveys the impression that previously the leaderboard was not shifting, i.e., that the leaderboard was static or "entrenched".
Answered by Richard Kayser on January 12, 2021
Both forward-looking and progressive mean and encapsulate the opposite of entrenched:
forward-looking [adjective]
looking at the future in a positive way and happy to try new ideas and methods
a forward-looking policy/strategy/plan
forward-looking [adjective]
favouring innovation and development; progressive.
a forward-looking company
[Lexico]
....................
progressive ...
1b: making use of or interested in new ideas, findings, or opportunities
Answered by Edwin Ashworth on January 12, 2021
As is often the case, the poster has fallen into a trap of his own making. If you dispense with the superfluous “incrementally”, you can say something that approximates more to English, such as:
The market share leader board is changing more and more.
However I dispute the idea that “leader board” is in any way academic or formal. To rework into formal English, while retaining the simplicity, I would write something like:
The companies with the greatest market share are changing more and more.
But to include a single word, so that the charge of not answering the question doesn‘t hold, I offer inchoate. It has the advantage that few people will understand it.
Answered by David on January 12, 2021
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