falling further behind

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "falling further behind" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that someone (or something) is not keeping up with others in some kind of race. For example, "John was falling further behind in the race, unable to keep up with the other competitors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

So are women getting ahead or falling further behind?

The Guardian

President Kibaki was facing a tide of anger over renditions and falling further behind in the polls.

The New York Times - Magazine

According to Reuters, Emaar.E.C received a loan of about 5 billion riyals from the government last month to stop it falling further behind on the project.

The Economist

On the contrary, the rest of Europe, particularly its southern half, is falling further behind as the European Union struggles to deal with the sovereign debt crisis.

The New York Times

You just keep falling further behind, while those who were lucky enough (and smart enough, and dogged enough) to succeed are avidly learning how to run faster.

TechCrunch

If Margaret Thatcher succeeded in inspiring her countrymen with Hayek's entrepreneurial vision, it happened because the U.K. was broke and falling further behind, not because better ideas win.

Forbes

In fact, they are falling further behind and are basically beyond broke.

Huffington Post

Suspended students often sit around at home, or in low-quality alternative programs, falling further behind on their studies.

Vice

Back in Anchorage in the early 2000s, Michelle McLaughlin started doing research on her own to determine why her son, Michael, was falling further behind in elementary school.

Huffington Post

The North falling further behind.

The Guardian

Now it is behind and falling further behind every year.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "falling further behind", ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject is falling behind in. For example, "The company is falling further behind in market share."

Common error

Avoid using "falling further behind" without specifying the standard or benchmark. Saying "They are falling further behind" is vague; instead, specify "They are falling further behind their competitors."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "falling further behind" functions as a dynamic descriptor, illustrating a continuous decline in position or status relative to a reference point. Ludwig AI validates this usage through numerous examples where it modifies nouns or pronouns to depict a worsening situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "falling further behind" effectively describes a situation where something or someone is progressively losing ground in comparison to others. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use, particularly in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, clarity is key; ensure you specify what the subject is falling behind in. Alternatives like "lagging further behind" or "losing ground" can offer nuanced variations, but "falling further behind" remains a potent and frequently employed descriptor of relative decline.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lagging further behind

Replaces "falling" with "lagging", emphasizing a slower pace rather than an active decline.

slipping further behind

Substitutes "falling" with "slipping", suggesting a gradual and often unnoticed decline.

falling far behind

Omits "further", slightly reducing the emphasis on the continuous nature of the decline.

drifting further behind

Replaces "falling" with "drifting", implying a lack of control or intention in the decline.

falling significantly behind

Adds "significantly", emphasizing the magnitude of the difference or decline.

falling increasingly behind

Uses "increasingly" to highlight the escalating nature of the gap.

losing ground

A more idiomatic expression that conveys the same general meaning of losing advantage or position.

being outpaced

Focuses on the aspect of others moving faster, leading to one being left behind.

becoming less competitive

Shifts the focus to a competitive context, highlighting the decline in one's ability to compete.

regressing

Highlights the action of going backward, rather than forward.

FAQs

How can I use "falling further behind" in a sentence?

You can use "falling further behind" to describe a situation where someone or something is losing ground compared to others. For instance, "If we don't invest in new technology, we risk "falling further behind" our competitors".

What are some alternatives to "falling further behind"?

Alternatives include "lagging further behind", "slipping further behind", or "losing ground". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "falling behind" or "falling further behind"?

"Falling behind" simply indicates a loss of position, while ""falling further behind"" emphasizes that the gap is increasing. The choice depends on whether you want to highlight the growing disparity.

What's the difference between "falling further behind" and "regressing"?

"Falling further behind" implies a relative decline compared to others, while "regressing" suggests an absolute decline in skill, knowledge, or status. "Falling further behind" is relative to a benchmark, whereas "regressing" is an intrinsic loss.