Lead to means cause something or have it as a result: the missing label led to a delivery error. It works for good and bad results, in speech and in essays. It can be literal too: the path leads to a small courtyard. The past is led, which sounds like the metal lead.
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a cause leads to a result; lead to + noun / -ing; lead–led–led
- The missing label led to a delivery error.
- A shorter form could lead to more people completing the survey.
- The path behind the library leads to a small courtyard.
What changed
First versionThe new booking system led to reduce waiting times.
RevisionThe new booking system led to shorter waiting times.
Want to go makes a base verb after to feel natural: led to reduce. But in lead to, to is a preposition, so it's followed by a noun or an -ing verb. The most natural option is to name the result with a noun: led to shorter waiting times.
Lead someone to do means make someone do something: the message led me to check the address, and here the infinitive after the person is correct. Lead to means cause a result: the message led to confusion. Result in is a near synonym, and result from works the other way round: 'be caused by'.
Your turn
The confusing signs led to several visitors ___ the wrong entrance.
Show the answer
using — To here is a preposition, so the verb after it takes -ing: led to several visitors using the wrong entrance. Bare use doesn't follow a preposition.
Describe what one small change at work or in your studies led to.
The extra reminder led to fewer people missing the registration deadline.
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