are going on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are going on" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used in the present progressive tense to indicate an action or event that is currently happening or in progress. Example: The construction workers are going on with their project despite the rain.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Other operations are going on as well.

The New York Times

Conversations are going on with those sports".

The Guardian - Sport

Mentions the North-South dialogues that are going on now.

The New Yorker

"So many positive things are going on," he said.

The New York Times

The animal experiments are going on now.

Nanoscale Research Letters

If true, those talks are going on somewhere.

Forbes

Those deliveries are going on now.

Huffington Post

A couple things are going on right now.

Los Angeles Times

"Discussions are going on.

Independent

Investigations are going on.

Independent

Most are going on holiday.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are going on" to describe events or processes that are currently in progress. Ensure the subject agrees in number (plural) with the verb "are". For example, "Negotiations are going on between the two companies".

Common error

Avoid using "is going on" when referring to multiple subjects. For example, instead of "The meetings is going on", use "The meetings are going on".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are going on" functions as a verb phrase indicating an action or series of actions that are currently in progress. Ludwig provides numerous examples across diverse contexts, affirming its active usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

22%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are going on" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe ongoing activities or events. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. While the phrase maintains a neutral register, it's essential to ensure subject-verb agreement. For formal writing, alternatives like "are in progress" or "are underway" may be preferred. By understanding the nuances of "are going on", writers can effectively convey information about current happenings while maintaining grammatical accuracy and stylistic appropriateness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are in progress

Focuses on the state of being actively developed or happening.

are underway

Highlights the commencement and continuation of activities.

are happening

A more general term indicating that events are taking place.

are occurring

Similar to happening but often used in more formal contexts.

are taking place

Emphasizes the scheduled or arranged nature of the events.

are being conducted

Suggests a more organized or formal process is ongoing.

are being executed

Implies a planned and managed implementation of activities.

are developing

Highlights the evolution and growth of ongoing events.

are unfolding

Suggests events are gradually being revealed or becoming known.

are transpiring

A more formal or literary way to say events are happening.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "are going on" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "are in progress", "are underway", or "are being conducted" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "are going on" and "are happening"?

While both indicate that events are taking place, "are going on" often implies a continuous process, whereas "are happening" is a more general statement about events occurring.

Can "are going on" be used to describe future events?

While primarily used for present continuous actions, "are going on" can sometimes imply near-future events that are already planned or expected. For instance, "Preparations are going on for the conference next week."

What are some common contexts where "are going on" is used?

"Are going on" is commonly used in news reports to describe ongoing investigations, negotiations, or events. It's also used in scientific contexts to describe experiments or studies that are in progress.