action in progress

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "action in progress" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an activity or task that is currently happening or being carried out. Example: "The project is currently in the action in progress phase, and we expect to see results soon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

An example of a verbal affix is -jian in kanjian 'see' and tingjian 'hear.' Important verb particles are -le (completed action), -guo (past action), and -zhe (action in progress).

Encyclopedia Britannica

It also explores how the generic sense of "independence" achievable through this practice is particularized in specific cases, how it inflects the character of the action in progress, and bears on self-presentational and relational concerns.

Journal of Pragmatics

Mr. Qazi, the military commander, told me that in Irbil an "action in progress," like a suicide bomber trying to drive through barriers outside the Interior Ministry, is foiled about once a month.

The New York Times

We use the future continuous for an action in progress at a future time.

BBC

a more active mental attitude on the part of the spectator and a more positive contribution on his part to the action in progress.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Bazin stated that by not cutting but instead choosing to depict the action in a single long-take, directors like Orson Welles (here and in Citizen Kane, 1941) evoke: a more active mental attitude on the part of the spectator and a more positive contribution on his part to the action in progress.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

And just this week, Amazon announced four new Alexa Skills Kit built-in intents that help users of third-party apps more easily navigate the skills, including being able to navigate to the next item in a list, pause an action in-progress, go back to a previous item, or resume an action.

TechCrunch

Speakers make use of glottalization of TCU-initial vowels in their design of next TCUs as new actions; whereas vowel linking contributes to the design of continuing actions-in-progress.

Journal of Pragmatics

An intention with which one is doing A is an intentional-action-in-progress that explains one's doing it.

SEP

He believed that every gossip writer should have five or six legal actions in progress at any time - it proved that they were doing their job effectively.

The Guardian

But, he said, Qwest is renegotiating those agreements, and, in any event, has numerous actions in progress to prevent such a default, reverse the most recent cut in the company's credit rating and re-enter the commercial paper market.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "action in progress" to clearly indicate that a task, project, or event is currently active and not yet completed. For example: "The investigation is an "action in progress", and updates will be provided as they become available."

Common error

Don't use "action in progress" without specifying what the action is. Instead of saying, "There's an "action in progress" here", be specific: "The system upgrade is an "action in progress"."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "action in progress" functions primarily as a descriptor, typically modifying a noun or noun phrase. It indicates that a particular event, task, or process is currently underway and has not yet reached completion. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Wiki

17%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "action in progress" is a grammatically correct descriptor used to indicate that an event, task, or process is currently underway. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, showing its prevalence in News & Media, Science, and Encyclopedia contexts. While not extremely common, it is suitable for both formal and informal communication, providing a neutral way to convey the active status of something. Alternatives like "ongoing activity" or "work in progress" can be used depending on the desired emphasis. Remember to specify the action for clarity and to provide context for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ongoing activity

Replaces "action" with "activity" and "in progress" with "ongoing", emphasizing the continuous nature of the activity.

current operation

Substitutes "action" with "operation", suggesting a more formal or structured undertaking.

work in progress

Focuses on the idea of development and incompletion, often used for projects or tasks not yet finalized.

under development

Similar to "work in progress", but specifically highlights the developmental stage of something.

currently underway

Emphasizes that something has started and is continuing at the present time.

in the works

An idiomatic expression meaning that something is being planned or prepared.

being executed

Implies a formal plan is being carried out methodically.

in the process of

Highlights the procedural aspect of the activity.

happening now

A straightforward description of an event taking place at the moment.

unfolding event

Suggests a gradual revelation or development of an event.

FAQs

How can I use "action in progress" in a sentence?

You can use "action in progress" to indicate that something is currently happening or being worked on. For example: "The construction project is still an "action in progress"."

What are some alternatives to "action in progress"?

Alternatives include "ongoing activity", "current operation", or "work in progress", depending on the specific context.

Is "action in progress" formal or informal language?

"Action in progress" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though alternatives like "ongoing activity" might be preferred in more formal writing.

What's the difference between "action in progress" and "completed action"?

"Action in progress" means something is currently happening, while "completed action" indicates that the activity is finished. For example, 'The investigation is an "action in progress"' versus 'The investigation is a completed action'.