certain progress

USAGE SUMMARY

"certain progress" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase.
It means definite or specific progress in a particular task or situation. Example: Despite facing numerous challenges, the team has made certain progress in completing the project on time.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Here we managed to achieve certain progress.

The New York Times

"But there has been a certain progress for people and it comes from education and training".

The New York Times

"One thing is certain, progress in the patent field has to be made.

The New York Times

Obama stopped short of giving a timetable, but he said he was certain progress could be made.

The Guardian

Under terms of the deal, Bristol did not have to pay $800 million until the drug made certain progress toward regulatory approval.

The New York Times

It is with satisfaction that we note a certain progress in issues related to Russia's accession to the W.T.O., in recognizing Russia as a market-economy country.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

In recent years, molecular imaging technology has seen certain progresses in the early diagnosis, curative effect monitoring of diseases, drug development, gene therapy, and other fields, but some key problems regarding theory, technology, and system, especially molecular imaging agents and imaging equipment, are not solved yet.

BioMed Research International

Perhaps the underlying problem is that we are no longer so certain of progress, no longer so sure that -- even within the 40 minutes or so of a symphony -- things are going to get better and end happily.

The New York Times - Arts

With only the first two certain to progress from each of the three semi-finals, medal hopeful Greene struggled in a disappointing time of 48.19 seconds, and had an anxious wait to discover his fate.

BBC

When McIlroy's tee shot at the par-three 16th rolled to within four feet for a birdie he seemed certain to progress into round three but English holed a downhill birdie putt at the 17th.

BBC

Scotland are now almost certain to progress to the relegation pool, where they will play off against three other teams for survival in Europe's top flight, having only just been promoted.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "certain progress", consider quantifying or qualifying the progress to provide more context. For example, instead of saying "We've made certain progress", specify "We've made certain progress in reducing costs" or "We've made certain progress towards our goals".

Common error

Avoid using "certain progress" to mask a lack of concrete achievements. If the progress is minimal or uncertain, it's better to be transparent and acknowledge the challenges rather than exaggerating the advancement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "certain progress" functions primarily as a noun phrase where the adjective "certain" modifies the noun "progress". It indicates a definite degree of advancement or improvement in a specific context. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "certain progress" is a grammatically sound and relatively common phrase used to indicate that a definite level of advancement has been achieved. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is often used in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. While it acknowledges positive developments, it does not necessarily specify the extent or significance of the progress. When using the phrase, it's beneficial to provide additional context by quantifying or qualifying the progress to avoid vagueness. Alternatives like "definite advancement", "noticeable improvement", and "specific advancement" can be used to convey similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

definite advancement

Replaces "progress" with "advancement" and "certain" with "definite", emphasizing clarity in the improvement.

specific advancement

Similar to "definite advancement" but uses "specific" to highlight the particular nature of the progress.

noticeable improvement

Shifts the focus to the visibility of the progress, using "noticeable" instead of "certain".

tangible development

Emphasizes the concrete and measurable nature of the progress, using "tangible" to denote something that can be perceived.

marked advancement

Uses "marked" to highlight that the advancement is clear and easy to see or recognize.

real headway

Uses "headway" as a synonym for progress, suggesting actual forward movement.

clear-cut gains

Focuses on the positive results achieved, highlighting that the gains are well-defined and unambiguous.

genuine stride

Expresses the progress as a step forward, implying a significant positive change.

verifiable success

Highlights that the progress is confirmed and can be proven or demonstrated.

substantial upturn

Expresses the progress as an increase or improvement, implying a positive trend.

FAQs

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

You can use "certain progress" to indicate that there has been definite advancement in a particular area. For example, "The team has made "certain progress" on the project, despite facing several obstacles."

What are some alternatives to "certain progress"?

Some alternatives to "certain progress" include "definite advancement", "noticeable improvement", or "specific advancement", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "certain progress" or "significant progress"?

The choice between "certain progress" and "significant progress" depends on the degree of advancement. "Certain progress" simply indicates that there has been some confirmed advancement, while "significant progress" implies that the advancement has been substantial and noteworthy.

What does it mean when someone says they've made "certain progress"?

When someone says they've made "certain progress", it means they've achieved some level of definite advancement or improvement in a particular area. The extent or significance of that progress is not necessarily implied, but it confirms that progress has occurred.