foster progress

USAGE SUMMARY

"foster progress" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to encouraging, promoting, or facilitating progress. For example, "The school district is committed to fostering progress in its students."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

From the still-violent Amazon frontier to the thawing North Pole sea ice there are signs that science, education, transparency and global communication networks can foster progress even in the face of rapid change.

The New York Times

As President Obama prepares to embark on his second and final term, it's worth exploring what he can do to foster progress on environmental issues and the nation's, and world's, energy and climate challenges.

The New York Times

Shortly after the war he became the first president of the Committee for Economic Development, a nonprofit organization of economists and company executives that tried to foster progress around the world.

The New York Times

Maintaining that almost nothing of God was actually "known" through Scriptures and theology, he founded the Templeton Prize in 1972 to foster "progress in religion" — an idea that included philosophy and exemplary conduct relating to love, gratitude, forgiveness and creativity.

The New York Times

It would be impossible to talk about a durable path for the country without talking about pursuing educational excellence, nurturing a culture of innovation and collaboration and building an energy menu that can foster progress through this century without overloading the atmosphere with greenhouse gases.

The New York Times

Yet with days left before the fiscal punch lands, both sides are exhibiting little sense of urgency, and new public statements Wednesday appeared to be designed more to ensure the other side is blamed rather than to foster progress toward a deal.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Twice before on Dot Earth, I've offered and solicited ways in which President Obama could foster environmental progress on a budget: 2011: Fostering Progress on a Finite (and Budget Strapped) Planet Tight budgets are a reality for a long time to come given global financial pressures and negotiations over the "fiscal cliff" in the United States.

The New York Times

[Stanford University has had remarkable outcomes, as well.] What's needed now is the educational equivalent to Paul Polak's work fostering progress in rural agrarian communities in poor places.

The New York Times

Seeger then talked about the role of the Web in fostering progress, essentially articulating one facet of that concept I've taken to calling knowosphere (an intentional echo of noosphere).

The New York Times

With appropriate guidance, students can not only develop story-and idea-sharing skills that mesh written and audiovisual output, but put those skills to use even as they learn, potentially playing a role in fostering progress on a finite planet.

The New York Times

Burk acknowledged that Egypt could prevent any RevCon agreement over the Middle East issue but said we should try to forestall that by fostering progress of some sort on the objectives of the 1995 NPT resolution on the region that is acceptable to all in the region (e.g., including Israel).

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "foster progress", consider the specific area or domain where progress is being encouraged to provide a clearer context. For instance, "foster progress in education" is more specific than simply "foster progress."

Common error

Avoid phrasing such as "Progress is fostered by..." as it can sound weak. Instead, use active voice: "Initiatives foster progress".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "foster progress" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun, indicating an action performed to encourage advancement or development. As Ludwig AI explains, it denotes promoting or facilitating positive change.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "foster progress" is a grammatically correct and relatively common phrase used to describe actions taken to encourage development or advancement. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability for referring to encouraging, promoting or facilitating progress. It is most frequently found in news and media, scientific, and formal business contexts, suggesting a professional and neutral register. To improve writing, consider specifying the area of progress. Alternatives include "encourage development" and "promote advancement".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encourage development

Focuses on stimulating the gradual growth or unfolding of something.

promote advancement

Highlights the act of raising something to a higher position or rank.

facilitate growth

Emphasizes making growth easier or more likely to happen.

cultivate improvement

Suggests carefully nurturing and developing positive changes.

stimulate forward movement

Directly implies initiating or accelerating progress.

advance development

Similar to promote advancement, but emphasizes the process of unfolding or elaborating.

nurture expansion

Conveys a sense of care and support in the process of growth or enlargement.

support evolution

Highlights assistance to a gradual process of change or development.

assist progression

Focuses on aiding the process of moving forward or advancing.

propel enhancement

Indicates driving or pushing something towards improvement.

FAQs

How can I use "foster progress" in a sentence?

You can use "foster progress" to describe actions that encourage or enable advancement, for example, "The new policies are designed to "foster progress" in renewable energy".

What are some alternatives to "foster progress"?

Alternatives to "foster progress" include "encourage development", "promote advancement", and "facilitate growth".

Is it better to say "foster progress" or "encourage progress"?

Both "foster progress" and "encourage progress" are grammatically correct and semantically similar. The best choice depends on the specific context and desired nuance. "Foster" implies nurturing and sustaining, while "encourage" suggests inspiring or motivating.

What does it mean to "foster progress" in a particular field?

To "foster progress" in a field means to create conditions that support and stimulate advancement, innovation, and positive change within that field. This could involve providing resources, promoting collaboration, or removing obstacles.