fail to progress

USAGE 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

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And how might we fail to progress?

Columbia University

Inevitably, one or two of the big soccer powers also trip up and fail to progress.

The New Yorker

1982 Sent off during the World Cup as Argentina fail to progress beyond the second group stage.

The Guardian

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.

Independent

In doing so, they became the first ever nation to win three pool matches and fail to progress to the knockout stage.

Independent

In alternating sections, "Everything" examines these relationships as they bud, blossom and then fail to progress as the characters might have hoped.

The New York Times - Books

South Africa are already in dire peril of becoming the first host country to fail to progress beyond the group stage.

The Guardian - Sport

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.

The Guardian - Opinion

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.

Independent

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.

Independent

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.

Independent

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.

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.

Expression frequency: Very common

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

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.