could be progressing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could be progressing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the potential advancement or development of a situation, project, or individual. Example: "The project timeline suggests that we could be progressing faster than initially anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Much like a lawn that reverts to weeds, bushes and eventually trees if left fallow, the sponges around Carrie Bow could be progressing through a similar succession before our eyes as the corals on which they depend change.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"There are matters that still could be progressed on the Lockerbie bombing.

Independent

"Whilst we won't support this amendment this morning, we do acknowledge the intent behind it and, from the Labor party's view, this is something we need to look at further and examine and discuss with all relevant parties on how the removal of GST from sanitary products could be progressed with the agreement of all parties".

Vice

The physiotherapist will agree an individualised programme with the participant, indicate ways this could be progressed and provide guidance on keeping the daily play log and on setting/recording goals.

BMJ Open

Individual exercise intensity for each participant was determined based on their initial assessment, beginning at a specific level; but which could be progressed: Level 1: Chair based lower level intensity aerobic and strength exercises.

BMC Geriatrics

The result in some cases could be progress reports that prove potentially misleading as the child gets older.

Independent

But there could be progress on tougher standards and in some cases more choice within the context of the public school system.

The New York Times

"If we trained 30,000 young people in building good toilets, in health, in basic sanitation at the village level, if every politician and industrialist pledged to pay for one toilet, then there could be progress," said Pathak.

The Guardian

Given the rate at which solar panels are progressing, nights could soon be as bright as day.

Vice

Overall, stakeholders concluded that a better supply of high-quality trained interpreters would need to be available in the system before this strategy could be effectively progressed.

BMJ Open

Given this, one approach is to screen libraries comprised of already approved drugs with known toxicity profiles that could be rapidly progressed into clinical trials (O'Connor & Roth, 2005).

EMBO Molecular Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could be progressing" to cautiously suggest forward momentum or advancement, particularly when the outcome is uncertain or dependent on specific conditions. This softens the assertion and avoids overpromising.

Common error

Avoid using "could be progressing" when the evidence clearly indicates stagnation or regression. Choose a more appropriate phrase if there's no reasonable basis to believe advancement is occurring.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could be progressing" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing possibility or potential. "Could" indicates a conditional or uncertain outcome, "be" serves as an auxiliary verb, and "progressing" is the present participle, indicating ongoing action. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "could be progressing" is a grammatically sound and usable expression, indicating a possibility of advancement or development. While relatively rare in usage, as confirmed by Ludwig, it finds its place in both News & Media and scientific contexts. The phrase serves to express cautious optimism, suggesting potential forward movement without asserting definitive certainty. Alternatives like "might be advancing" or "may be developing" offer subtle nuances in meaning. It's crucial to avoid using "could be progressing" when evidence suggests otherwise, to maintain clarity and accuracy in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might be advancing

Replaces "could" with "might", indicating a slightly lower degree of possibility.

may be developing

Substitutes "progressing" with "developing", focusing on the stage of evolution.

might be evolving

Replaces "progressing" with "evolving", implying a gradual change.

could be improving

Focuses on the aspect of improvement rather than general progression.

may be shaping up

Uses a phrasal verb to indicate the potential for positive development.

might be taking shape

Similar to "may be shaping up", but emphasizes the formation process.

could be getting better

Simplifies the phrase to focus on the aspect of improvement.

may be moving forward

Replaces "progressing" with a directional phrase, indicating advancement.

might be on track

Indicates potential for staying aligned with a planned path.

could be gaining traction

Implies that progress is starting to become more noticeable or effective.

FAQs

How can I use "could be progressing" in a sentence?

Use "could be progressing" to cautiously suggest that something is moving forward or developing, especially when the outcome isn't certain. For example: "Negotiations "could be progressing", but significant obstacles remain."

What are some alternatives to "could be progressing"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "might be advancing", "may be developing", or "could be improving".

Is it correct to say "could be progress" instead of "could be progressing"?

No, "could be progress" is grammatically incorrect. "Progress" is a noun, and after "could be" you need a verb form like the present participle "progressing" or a past participle like "progressed", depending on the meaning you want to convey.

What's the difference between "could be progressing" and "could be advancing"?

"Could be progressing" and "could be advancing" are quite similar, both suggesting potential forward movement. "Advancing" might imply a more direct or forceful movement forward, while "progressing" can suggest a more general sense of development.