draft in progress

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "draft in progress" is a correct and usable term in written English.
You can use it to describe work that is still in progress and that is not yet finished. For example, you could say, "I have a draft in progress for my term paper and I will keep working on it until it is complete."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

QUESTION FROM JCG: Have you ever received negative (or not so helpful) feedback to a draft in progress and if so, what's your technique to re-focus?

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Drafts in progress; brochures; and no fewer than seven thick, dog-eared college guides—I may not have authored a peer-reviewed paper about the hermit crab maze ("The Effects of Human Adolescent Exuberance on Unfortunate Coenobita clypeatus"), but when it came to applying to college, I was deliberate and thorough.

Science Magazine

It's as simple: Like Rauschenberg erasing a de Kooning, it seemed fine to let an audience edit everything I've ever done (and drafts, works in progress, bad ideas even) and let them destroy them.

Huffington Post

But now, Canongate finds itself accused by Assange himself of "screwing people over to make a buck": he claims that the published version was in fact a draft, a "work in progress" and that he had promised to provide a new version of the book by the end of this year.

The Guardian - Books

Their first reaction is what will go out into the world, and there's no such thing as a draft or work in progress, which is why there are so few genuinely great commentators, those who are not only able to tell us what's going on but do so with some form of wit and art.

The Guardian - Sport

The resolution, which was being prepared by the United States and Britain, was not formally presented to the Security Council yesterday; as noted in other articles yesterday, the drafting is still in progress.

The New York Times

(Of course, as panel officials have stressed, drafts are "works in progress" until the report is approved by governments and formally released, but it's rare to see substantive changes this late in the game).

The New York Times

But everything that happens seems to confirm her theory, not least the arrival of her new publisher's editor, Arthur, who having read a draft of her work-in-progress can see how much richer a book it might be if Ramon rather than Alicia became the central figure and the title were shortened to Bloom, thereby echoing that great Everyman, Leopold Bloom, in Joyce's Ulysses.

The Guardian - Books

Although I admire Mr. O'Hagan's writing, this draft was a work in progress".

The New York Times

He sent Werner Dannhauser, a political scientist who had been a close friend and ideological soul mate of Bloom's, a draft of his novel in progress.

The New York Times - Magazine

Initially, delivery was expected in 2006, but a dispute about the standard resulted in the first draft being a work in progress rather than a finished document.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a document or plan that is still being developed, use "draft in progress" to clearly indicate its unfinished state and avoid premature judgments. For example, label a document as a "draft in progress" before sharing it for internal feedback.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "draft in progress" as a final product. Clearly communicate its preliminary status to prevent misunderstandings and misinterpretations, especially in formal settings or when sharing with external stakeholders.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "draft in progress" functions as a descriptive noun phrase, typically used to specify the current state of a document or project. It indicates that the work is underway but not yet complete. Ludwig AI shows that it is used to describe something that is still being developed.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "draft in progress" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a document or project that is currently being developed but not yet finalized. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. While relatively rare, it appears in a variety of contexts, including news, scientific, and formal business settings. To avoid misinterpretations, it's crucial to clearly communicate the preliminary status when sharing a "draft in progress". Alternatives like "work in development" and "work in progress" offer similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a work in progress

A more common and general term for something not yet finished.

work in development

Focuses on the developmental aspect, highlighting that the work is still being actively developed.

in the process of being drafted

Emphasizes the drafting stage, more formal and descriptive.

under construction

Emphasizes that the item is being built or created, often used for physical or digital projects.

in the works

Indicates that something is being planned or prepared, but not necessarily written.

being developed

Highlights the action of development, suitable when emphasizing the process.

in the pipeline

Suggests that the item is in a sequence of processes leading to completion.

currently being written

Specifically refers to the writing process, clarifying the type of work being done.

preliminary version

Highlights the early, unpolished state of the document.

unfinished manuscript

Specifically refers to a manuscript that is not yet complete.

FAQs

How can I use the phrase "draft in progress" in a sentence?

You can use "draft in progress" to indicate that a document or plan is still being worked on and is not yet in its final form. For instance, "The policy document is currently a "draft in progress" and subject to change".

What's a more common way to say "draft in progress"?

A more common and general way to express the same idea is to use the phrase "work in progress", which also signifies that something is not yet completed.

Is it appropriate to share a "draft in progress" with external stakeholders?

Sharing a "draft in progress" with external stakeholders can be acceptable, but it's crucial to clearly communicate that the document is not final and is subject to revisions. This avoids potential confusion or premature reliance on incomplete information.

What's the difference between a "draft in progress" and a "final draft"?

A "draft in progress" is an early version of a document that is still being actively developed and revised. A "final draft" represents the version that is considered complete and ready for publication or implementation, pending any minor edits.