The process is underway

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "The process is underway" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a particular process or activity has started and is currently in progress. Example: "The application review process is underway, and we expect to make decisions by the end of the month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

The process is underway.

The New York Times

"The process is underway and is pending league approvals". Powell Jobs declined to comment for this story.

The Washington Post

The process is underway, with leading subprime originators on the ropes (or worse) and with broad-line originators materially adjusting their underwriting standards for subprime loans.

Forbes

"The process is underway," school board President Dana Black assured Barnett and others.

Los Angeles Times

On Wednesday, the chief executive of the National Music Publishers Association announced that the process is underway to add Ono to the song as a co-writer, Variety reported.

The Washington Post

"We are not going to use it in new products and the process is underway for identifying alternatives or changing formulations for the small number of existing products that had included triclosan among their ingredients," Avon spokeswoman, Jennifer Vargas, told the Guardian.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

"However, once the process was underway, they do send you letters which explain the next steps much more clearly".

Independent

American officials said the process was underway to confirm whether the Syrian government had used chemical weapons and, if so, what kind.

The New York Times

Today the capture of all communications data is routine, whether that be from phone calls, faxes or emails, all in the name of the "war on terror", naturally - but the process was underway during the cold war.

The Guardian - Opinion

In February, Hurwitz told Digital Spy that the process was underway, but couldn't say more.

Huffington Post

"The government is now collecting all the guns because the president has given a deadline... Everything is going peacefully," Nyamitwe said, asserting that there was no violence while the process was underway.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "The process is underway" to clearly communicate that a defined series of actions has commenced and is currently in progress, especially in formal communications.

Common error

Avoid using "The process is underway" in casual conversations or informal writing where simpler phrases like "It's happening" or "We're working on it" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "The process is underway" functions as a declarative statement indicating that a specific action or procedure has commenced and is currently in progress. Ludwig AI provides examples in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "The process is underway" is a grammatically sound and usable English phrase indicating that a specific action or series of actions has begun and is in progress. As per Ludwig AI, its register is generally neutral to professional, frequently appearing in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. While correct, its overuse in casual settings should be avoided in favor of simpler alternatives. Consider related phrases such as "the process is in progress" or "the procedure is ongoing" for subtle variations in tone and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

The process is in progress

Replaces "underway" with the more direct "in progress", maintaining the same meaning with slightly less nuance.

The procedure is ongoing

Substitutes "process" with "procedure" and "underway" with "ongoing", suggesting a more formal or structured activity.

The operation is in motion

Uses "operation" and "in motion" to imply a more active and potentially complex series of actions.

The activity is proceeding

Replaces "process" with "activity" and "underway" with "proceeding", giving a sense of steady advancement.

The wheels are in motion

Employs a metaphor to suggest that preparations or initial steps have been completed and the main action has begun.

Action is being taken

Focuses on the action itself, rather than the broader process, emphasizing that something is actively being done.

Work is in progress

A more general statement indicating that effort is currently being applied to a task or project.

Things are in motion

A more informal way of saying things are happening or progressing.

Steps are being taken

Highlights the individual steps being carried out as part of a larger plan.

The project is moving forward

Emphasizes advancement and progress on a specific project.

FAQs

What does "The process is underway" mean?

It means that a particular procedure or series of actions has started and is currently in progress.

How can I use "The process is underway" in a sentence?

You can use it to indicate that something has begun and is ongoing, for example, "The application review "process is underway", and we expect to make decisions soon."

What are some alternatives to "The process is underway"?

You can use alternatives like "The process is in progress", "The procedure is ongoing", or "Work is in progress" depending on the context.

Is "The process is underway" formal or informal?

It's generally considered neutral to formal. In very informal contexts, you might choose a simpler phrase, such as "It's happening" or "We're working on it."