are still lagging

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are still lagging" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is behind schedule or not keeping pace with expectations or standards. Example: "Despite the improvements made, the project timelines are still lagging behind the original schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Bulgaria and Romania are still lagging.

The Economist

Domestic wages and productivity are still lagging.

The New York Times

Other sectors are still lagging behind, though.

The Guardian - Business

But some countries are still lagging behind.

The Guardian

Others, including many big banks, are still lagging.

The New York Times

"Russian electronics are still lagging behind the West, and they are very, very important".

Independent

That could offset the possible loss of Ohio or West Virginia, whose economies are still lagging.

The New York Times

But others are still lagging behind, wasting huge volumes of resources.

The Guardian

Many brands are still lagging behind in mobile optimisation, as desktop is far easier to optimise.

The Guardian

Wages are still lagging inflation, meaning pay packets are shrinking in real terms.

The Guardian

The report showed that women are still lagging behind in many areas of the media.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are still lagging" when you want to emphasize a continued state of being behind or failing to meet expectations. It is particularly useful when contrasting current performance with past performance or desired goals.

Common error

Avoid using "are still lagging" when the subject has made absolutely no progress. The phrase implies some level of effort or movement, however minimal. In cases of complete stagnation, consider phrases like "have not even started" or "remain completely inactive".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are still lagging" functions as a verbal phrase within a sentence, typically part of a clause. Ludwig's examples show it commonly acts as a predicate, describing the state or condition of a subject. The auxiliary verb "are" indicates the present tense, "still" indicates continuation, and "lagging" functions as the main verb, indicating a state of being behind or not keeping pace.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are still lagging" is a versatile verbal phrase used to describe a continued state of being behind or not meeting expectations. Analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, including news, science, and business. While simple and straightforward, it’s important to use it accurately, ensuring the subject has indeed made some effort or movement, however minimal. According to Ludwig, the phrase communicates a situation where progress is not meeting expectations, implying a comparison. For alternative expressions, consider "are still behind", "are still trailing", or "are yet to catch up".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are still behind

This alternative uses a simpler and more direct synonym for "lagging".

are presently lagging

Adding "presently" emphasizes the current state of lagging.

are still trailing

This alternative uses a synonym that emphasizes the act of following behind.

continue to lag

This alternative emphasizes the ongoing nature of the lagging.

are still falling behind

This alternative explicitly includes the idea of "falling", suggesting a continuous movement away from the front.

are yet to catch up

This alternative focuses on the need to "catch up", highlighting the distance that needs to be covered.

have not caught up yet

This alternative changes the sentence structure to emphasize the lack of progress made.

are remaining slow

This alternative focuses on the slowness of the progress.

are presently deficient

This alternative indicates the lagging by highlighting a deficiency.

have a long way to go

This alternative changes the expression from lagging to suggesting a large amount of progress is needed.

FAQs

What does "are still lagging" mean?

The phrase "are still lagging" indicates that something or someone is behind or not keeping pace with others. It implies that despite some effort or passage of time, the subject has not yet caught up or reached the expected level.

How can I use "are still lagging" in a sentence?

You can use "are still lagging" to describe various situations, such as "Despite the reforms, some sectors of the economy "are still lagging" behind", or "Although progress has been made, certain regions "are still lagging" in development".

What can I say instead of "are still lagging"?

You can use alternatives like "are still behind", "are still trailing", or "are yet to catch up" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "are still lagging" or "are lagging behind"?

Both phrases are generally acceptable, but "are still lagging" emphasizes the continuity of the lagging, whereas "are lagging behind" focuses on the relative position. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.