be further along

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be further along" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate progress or advancement in a process, project, or situation. Example: "By the end of the month, we hope to be further along in our development schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I thought I'd be further along," Collins said.

The New York Times - Sports

"I honestly thought we would be further along," he said.

The New York Times

While Oregon's lawmakers seem to be further along in trying to undo term limits than other states', they are hardly alone.

The New York Times

On the other hand, Lewis also said the program would be further along had Dalton, Club Med's skipper, been more cooperative.

The New York Times - Sports

The project that appears to be further along is "Low Winter Sun," a crime drama about a Detroit detective who goes to the dark side.

The New York Times

"The debate will be further along, but I don't think we'll have tax reform done a year from now," said Mr. Weinberger at Ernst & Young.

The New York Times

By then, construction will be further along, and such a decision would almost certainly prompt Russia to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport – with any compensation claim starting at $4.7bn or more.

The Guardian

"We would have gone through same things, but we'd be further along now".

TechCrunch

The House may be further along, but still is nowhere near agreement, despite promises from House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis).

Huffington Post

The House appears to be further along than the Senate.

The New York Times

He had hoped to be further along in training.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be further along" to express expectations about progress, especially when comparing the current state to a desired future state. For instance, "We expected the project to be further along by this stage."

Common error

While it's natural to express hopes for progress, avoid using "be further along" excessively when the context suggests unrealistic expectations or a lack of concrete planning. Ensure your statements are grounded in achievable goals and realistic timelines.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be further along" functions as a verb phrase indicating a state of expected or desired progress. As evidenced by Ludwig, it often appears in contexts where someone expresses an expectation about the advancement of a project, skill, or situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be further along" is a versatile phrase used to express expectations regarding progress or advancement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts. It is particularly frequent in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. When writing, use it to convey an assessment of progress against a desired or expected state, and consider alternatives like "be more advanced" or "have progressed further" for subtle variations in meaning. Be mindful of setting realistic expectations and avoid overusing the phrase in overly optimistic or unrealistic scenarios. Remember to check Ludwig to ensure correctness in context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be more advanced

Focuses on the state of being ahead in development or skill.

be more developed

Emphasizes the extent of growth or sophistication achieved.

have progressed further

Highlights the action of moving forward to a greater extent.

have made more headway

Indicates greater progress, often in overcoming obstacles.

be in a better position

Focuses on improved status or advantage relative to others or a previous state.

be at a later stage

Specifies advancement in a sequence or process.

have reached a higher level

Indicates attainment of an elevated rank or status.

be further down the line

Suggests advancement along a planned course or timeline.

be more sophisticated

Emphasizes increased complexity and refinement.

be further down the road

Similar to 'further down the line', but perhaps less formal and more metaphorical.

FAQs

How can I use "be further along" in a sentence?

Use "be further along" to indicate that something should have progressed more than it actually has. For example, "I thought I'd "be further along" in my training by now."

What are some alternatives to "be further along"?

You can use alternatives such as "be more advanced", "have progressed further", or "be more developed" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "be further along than expected"?

Yes, it is correct. This phrase is used to indicate that progress has exceeded initial expectations. For example, "The project is "be further along" than expected."

What's the difference between "be further along" and "be ahead"?

"Be further along" typically implies a comparison against an expected or desired level of progress, while "be ahead" simply means being in a leading position or more advanced state.