falls further behind

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "falls further behind" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something is lagging or not keeping up with others over time. Example: "As technology advances, those who do not adapt quickly enough often falls further behind in the competitive market."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

The opportunity cost of becoming a teacher and remaining in the profession becomes more and more important as relative teacher pay falls further behind that of other professions.

The Washington Post

Despite a healthy total of just under £130m this year, King's College London falls further behind the top four with an increase of £11m in the gap.

The Guardian

Everything Everywhere (EE) questioned "elements" of the rules, but stressed the need to "get this process moving now before the UK falls further behind the rest of the world".

The Guardian

As the agency falls further behind, he is helping to build a new Office of Research and Analytics, which is looking to hire people with experience on Wall Street and in computer programming.

The New York Times

Despite a prodigious balance sheet and a renaissance in the labs, International Business Machines Corp. falls further behind every year.

Forbes

A spokesperson for Everything Everywhere said: "While there are still some elements of today's proposal which we don't think are in the interests of competition or consumers, we are pleased that Ofcom is moving in the right direction and we recognise that we need to get this process moving now before the UK falls further behind the rest of the world".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

So are women getting ahead or falling further behind?

The Guardian

One notable exception is young Hispanic men, who are falling further behind Hispanic women.

Stanford University

Every summer that children spend without learning, they fall further behind, and the losses add up.

The New York Times

And if she had kept winning in Melbourne, missing more class and fallen further behind?

The New York Times

The Bundesliga has to be careful not to fall further behind, I think.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "falls further behind" when you want to emphasize a continuous or increasing decline relative to a standard or other entities. This phrasing is suitable when describing trends or trajectories.

Common error

Avoid using "falls further behind" to describe a one-time event or a static comparison. This phrase implies a process over time, not a fixed state. For example, instead of saying "Company A falls further behind Company B in that quarter", say "Company A lagged behind Company B in that quarter".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "falls further behind" functions as a verb phrase expressing a progressive action. It describes a continuous decline or a widening gap between two or more entities over time, as confirmed by examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "falls further behind" is a grammatically correct and effective way to describe a progressively worsening situation where something is failing to keep pace. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's most commonly found in news and media contexts and carries a neutral tone. When writing, remember that this phrase implies a continuous decline and should not be used for static comparisons. Consider alternatives like "lags behind" or "is outpaced" depending on your desired nuance. Be aware that using "falls further behind" emphasizes a growing disparity over time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lags behind

Uses a different verb to convey a similar meaning of not keeping up.

falls increasingly behind

Adds an adverb to emphasize the growing disparity.

is outpaced

Uses a passive voice to indicate being surpassed by others.

loses ground

Employs a metaphorical expression indicating a decrease in advantage or position.

is left in the dust

Uses an idiom to illustrate being far behind.

drops further back

Indicates a regression in position or progress.

descends further down

Suggests a downward trend in ranking or status.

slips further down the ladder

Implies a loss of position in a hierarchical structure.

gets left behind

Uses passive voice to indicate being abandoned or not included in progress.

trails further behind

Specifies the nature of falling behind as 'trailing', implying following at a distance.

FAQs

What does it mean when something "falls further behind"?

When something "falls further behind", it means it is progressively losing ground or failing to keep pace with a standard, competitor, or expected level of progress. The implication is of a growing disparity over time.

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

You can use "falls further behind" to describe a situation where something is not keeping up with something else, like "As technology advances, those who do not adapt quickly "fall further behind" in the competitive market".

What are some alternatives to "falls further behind"?

Alternatives to "falls further behind" include "lags behind", "is outpaced", or "loses ground". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

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

"Falls behind" indicates a general failure to keep pace. "Falls further behind" emphasizes a continuous or increasing decline. Use "falls further behind" when you want to highlight that the gap is widening.