25

It seems to me that "leading edge" is the more established phrase, while "bleeding edge" is basically the same thing but the user has adapted the phrase for extra (rather meaningless) emphasis.

Or is there a meaningful distinction between the two?

Improve this question
0

5 Answers 5

Reset to default
43

There is, in fact, a distinction.

Leading edge in this sense, means cutting edge. It refers to the most highly sophisticated development in a field. However, it rarely or never has the connotation of risky or untested. It is almost always used to describe the best; not necessarily the newest.

Bleeding edge would refer to a development that is so new that it could have a high risk of being unreliable and may incur greater expense in order to use it:

Bleeding edge: A pun on "leading edge." It implies that using the latest technology is often risky because it has not been tested with enough users and may not perform as expected. Introducing an advanced product or service is also risky because the user community may not be ready for it or really want it.

Improve this answer
6
  • So "leading edge" technology is similar but less risky? Is the level of risk quantifiable?
    – FrustratedWithFormsDesigner
    Aug 29, 2011 at 21:14
  • 2
    IMHO leading edge or cutting edge wouldn't be used of a risky development.
    – Daniel
    Aug 29, 2011 at 21:23
  • I just did, hence the upvote. :)
    – FrustratedWithFormsDesigner
    Aug 29, 2011 at 21:26
  • 1
    +1 I'd never heard bleeding edge before. Thanks for enlightening me.
    – user13141
    Oct 14, 2011 at 8:13
  • 1
    @DilipSarwate: maybe true, but irrelevant. It is not the EDGE that is moving in this metaphor, but YOU. The relevant saying is, "When you're working at the cutting edge, the trick is to stay behind the blade."
    – Hexagon Tiling
    Mar 9, 2012 at 23:28
9

There is a slight semantic difference here.

Leading edge refers to people or things who are the foremost or the best in a technology, science, art, skill, etc.

Bleeding edge also refers to this fact of being in the foremost, but the difference between bleeding edge and leading edge, is that bleeding edge is risky. Leading edge is not risky. Bleeding edge is. For example:

Bleeding edge technology refers to technology that is so new that it could have a high risk of being unreliable and may incur greater expense in order to use it.

PC Encyclopedia defines bleeding edge:

A pun on "leading edge." It implies that using the latest technology is often risky because it has not been tested with enough users and may not perform as expected. Introducing an advanced product or service is also risky because the user community may not be ready for it or really want it

Note how it's derived from leading edge.

Improve this answer
6
  • 6
    "Bleeding edge" is a pun which combines the sound of "leading edge" and the knife metaphor of "cutting edge". The fundamental idea is that it's just a bit beyond the cutting edge.
    – Tom Anderson
    Aug 29, 2011 at 21:45
  • 5
    Arthur C. Clarke once wrote that the only way to discover the limits of the possible was to go a little way beyond them into the impossible. The bleeding edge is a little way beyond the limit.
    – Tom Anderson
    Aug 29, 2011 at 21:47
  • @Tom I think you should post an answer, because you are more right than these other answers.
    – Kit Z. Fox ♦
    Sep 2, 2011 at 2:37
  • @Kit: I think this answer is essentially correct. I believe it's better to buttress an essentially correct answer with a comment than to post yet another answer, even if it is slightly more correct. And here, the difference between what Thursagen and i are saying is so small as to fall well within the realm of personal opinion.
    – Tom Anderson
    Sep 2, 2011 at 19:12
  • 1
    @TomAnderson "The fundamental idea is that it's just a bit beyond the cutting edge." Actually, bleeding starts after the cutting edge has gone past (and usually deeper). Thus in actuality it is the cutting edge that is just a bit beyond the bleeding edge, while the usage is taken to mean exactly the opposite.
    – Dilip Sarwate
    Jan 14, 2012 at 2:54
0

Leading edge is a term for being in the forefront of a field. The term probably comes from the leading edge of an airfoil or similar body in aerodynamics. Bleeding edge is a play on leading edge, referring to the high risk of leading edge technology failing or encountering problems.

Improve this answer
0

In the context of social change rather than technology, "leading edge" concepts are widely accepted, with proponents receiving accolades. While "bleeding edge" concepts are not yet so widely accepted and proponents bleed, metaphorically, as a result, even if the concept is adopted and becomes leading edge at a later date. Thus, a very big difference between leading edge and bleeding edge.

Improve this answer
-3

Bleeding edge as others have said is very high risk, mostly is rolled out in commercially unstable environments.

Leading edge is industry leading, but risk is reduced and adoption is starting to pick up.

Trailing edge technologies simply support the leading edge.

As per the article below, it seems that these patterns are presented as S-Curves in patterns of nature as well as technological, cultural and scientific paradigm shifts.

S-Curves - What can we Learn from Elon Musk

Source - What can we learn from Elon Musk

Improve this answer
1

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.