Ongoing

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'ongoing' is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means "still happening or being dealt with" or "continuing or in progress." Example: The ongoing construction on the highway has caused significant traffic delays. This sentence means that the construction work is still happening and is causing delays, suggesting that it is not yet finished.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Ongoing fear and the death of witnesses provide further challenges.

The Guardian

The government should not tell women what to wear, the home secretary has said, amid ongoing debate over the use of full-face veils.

The Guardian

Writers who successfully complete the course will receive a successful completion certificate from UEA, which will be made on the basis of ongoing assessment and a final submission of at least 10,000 words.

The Guardian

Members of a well-known London football dynasty that also numbers Les, Dennis, Bradley and Clive among its members, the pair will conduct the draw at approximately 2pm, with five different third-round matches either ongoing or still to begin.

The Guardian - Sport

With this legislation pending, as well as a presidential campaign and an ongoing battle to reform the NSA, it doesn't seem likely that Paul is ready to follow in Gravel's footsteps.

The Guardian

An investigation into what caused the men to crash into the cliff face is ongoing.

The Guardian

This is still ongoing but the council has assured us that they will fully fund the library for the next few years.

The Guardian - Books

In his opinion, the ongoing talks are doomed to fail because Iran will never put up with the US.

The Guardian

Still, the latest judicial document in the ongoing battle, a 337-page justification of the most recent convictions made public on Tuesday, marks a new low.

The Guardian - Opinion

But Kearns said the court "is satisfied, in the circumstances of this case, that it is in the best interests of the unborn child; it should authorise at the discretion of the medical team the withdrawal of ongoing somatic support being provided in this tragic and unfortunate case".

The Guardian

When I was at school, I don't think I realised there were playwrights who were alive and still writing; you just don't register that it's still a new and ongoing art form.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ongoing", ensure it clearly indicates the continuous nature of the action or state you are describing. For example, "The ongoing research project aims to..." is more effective than simply "The research project aims to...".

Common error

Don't use "ongoing" redundantly when the context already implies continuation. Saying "The ongoing process continues" is repetitive; simply state "The process continues".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "ongoing" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate that something is currently in progress or continuing. As shown by Ludwig AI, it often appears before nouns such as "investigation", "talks", or "battle" to describe their current status.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ongoing" functions primarily as an adjective, denoting something that is currently in progress or continuing. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across diverse contexts, particularly in news and media, business, and academic fields. The phrase is considered grammatically correct and suitable for neutral to formal registers. When using "ongoing", it's essential to ensure that the context supports its descriptive purpose and avoids redundancy. As shown by Ludwig, using synonyms like "continuing", "current", or "in progress" can provide nuanced alternatives depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

In progress

Focuses specifically on the state of being actively worked on or happening now, rather than the duration of the activity.

Continuing

Emphasizes the uninterrupted nature of an activity or process, similar to "ongoing" but without necessarily implying active involvement.

Current

Highlights the present relevance or validity of something, differing from "ongoing" by not explicitly indicating a duration.

In effect

Describes something that is currently active or operational, such as a law or rule.

Extant

Indicates something is currently existing or in effect, differing from "ongoing" in that it doesn't necessarily imply activity or progress.

Persistent

Highlights the enduring quality of something, often implying a challenge or difficulty in stopping it.

Unresolved

Focuses on lack of completion, but could be used instead of “ongoing” when talking about issues or problems.

Sustained

Suggests that effort or support is being continuously applied to maintain something.

Unfinished

Indicates that something is not yet complete.

Developing

Emphasizes growth and change over time, suggesting a process that is unfolding.

FAQs

How to use "ongoing" in a sentence?

"Ongoing" is typically used as an adjective to describe a process, project, or situation that is currently in progress. For example, "The "ongoing negotiations" are crucial for resolving the conflict."

What can I say instead of "ongoing"?

You can use alternatives like "continuing", "current", or "in progress" depending on the specific context. Each alternative emphasizes a slightly different aspect of the situation.

Which is correct, "ongoing process" or "on-going process"?

"Ongoing process" is the correct spelling. "On-going" with a hyphen is less common and generally considered less formal. Always use "ongoing" as one word in formal writing.

What's the difference between "ongoing" and "continuous"?

"Ongoing" typically refers to something currently in progress, whereas "continuous" emphasizes that something happens without interruption. For example, "The machine requires continuous maintenance" implies uninterrupted maintenance, while "The ongoing project" suggests the project is currently happening.