Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.
Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
fail to progress
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "fail to progress" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something does not advance or improve over time. Example: "Despite numerous attempts to implement the new strategy, the team continues to fail to progress in their project goals."
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Science
Academia
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
60 human-written examples
And how might we fail to progress?
Academia
Inevitably, one or two of the big soccer powers also trip up and fail to progress.
News & Media
1982 Sent off during the World Cup as Argentina fail to progress beyond the second group stage.
News & Media
Should Real fail to progress in the Copa Del Rey tonight they could see all their trophy hopes disappear in the matter of a week.
News & Media
In doing so, they became the first ever nation to win three pool matches and fail to progress to the knockout stage.
News & Media
In alternating sections, "Everything" examines these relationships as they bud, blossom and then fail to progress as the characters might have hoped.
News & Media
South Africa are already in dire peril of becoming the first host country to fail to progress beyond the group stage.
News & Media
Women are much more likely to fail to progress than men, as are those in the north-east and Wales compared to those in London.
News & Media
Lennon did not want his players to be remembered for beating the Spanish side only to then fail to progress from Group G. Spartak were obliging visitors, since they arrived in a state of unrest.
News & Media
Australia must be beaten here next Saturday night; if the hosts fail to progress from Pool A this World Cup risks becoming a national curiosity, rather than a national obsession.
News & Media
Lord Coe said: "The sadness of it is I was actually at the badminton yesterday and I saw a British competitor narrowly fail to progress but the games were incredibly competitive in front of really large enthusiastic audiences - unacceptable.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "fail to progress", clearly specify what is not progressing and why. This provides context and prevents ambiguity.
Common error
While acceptable, "fail to progress" can sound somewhat negative in formal contexts. Consider using more neutral alternatives like "not advancing" or "remaining stagnant" for a less critical tone.
Source & Trust
86%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "fail to progress" primarily functions as a verb phrase, often used as part of a larger clause. It describes the absence of advancement or improvement. Ludwig's examples show its versatility in various sentence structures.
Frequent in
News & Media
43%
Science
36%
Academia
5%
Less common in
Formal & Business
5%
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "fail to progress" is a grammatically sound and common verb phrase used to express a lack of advancement or improvement. Ludwig highlights its prevalence in news, science, and academic contexts. While generally neutral, it's important to consider more tactful alternatives in formal settings. According to Ludwig, using this phrase involves clearly specifying what is not progressing to avoid ambiguity. Common errors include overuse in very formal writing, where phrases like "not advancing" might be preferable. Overall, it is important to be precise in stating the reason(s) the subject is "failing to progress" in order to give full context to the reader.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
not advance
Uses a more direct synonym for progress.
not move forward
Emphasizes the lack of forward movement.
stall
Suggests a sudden stop in progress.
not improve
Focuses on the absence of betterment.
reach a standstill
Implies a complete halt in advancement.
be stagnant
Highlights a lack of change or development.
remain unchanged
Stresses the lack of alteration or development.
be stuck
Suggests an inability to move past a certain point.
languish
Implies a prolonged state of inactivity and decline.
lose momentum
Indicates a decrease in the rate of advancement.
FAQs
How can I use "fail to progress" in a sentence?
You can use "fail to progress" to describe situations where something or someone does not advance or improve as expected. For example: "Despite the new training program, the team continued to fail to progress."
What are some alternatives to "fail to progress"?
Alternatives include "not advance", "not move forward", or "remain stagnant", depending on the context.
Is it better to say "fail to progress" or "failed to progress"?
The choice depends on the tense you need. "Fail to progress" is present tense, while "failed to progress" is past tense. For example, "If they fail to progress, they will be eliminated" versus "They failed to progress last season."
What's the difference between "fail to progress" and "regress"?
"Fail to progress" means not advancing, while "regress" means to return to a previous, typically worse, state. Failing to progress implies a lack of movement, whereas regressing implies a backward movement.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
86%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested