hardly progressing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hardly progressing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where there is little to no advancement or improvement in a particular context. Example: "Despite our efforts, the project is hardly progressing, and we may need to reevaluate our strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Alan Shearer has hardly progressed beyond the "he'll be disappointed with that" verdicts and knee-jerk typecasting.

Independent

Still, as a sideline observer, I can't help but notice that, while their number keeps increasing exponentially, human desires have hardly progressed from those of prehistoric man.

The New Yorker

Two years on it has hardly progressed beyond a paper park and cannot do so until the court cases are settled.

The Guardian

In his truly annoying coming of age, the incessantly demanding Tommy hardly progresses beyond whining, though his all-consuming sadness and premonitions of death remain just an offering for possibilities of depth.

The New York Times

Graft polymerization of the sulfo-containing styrene, ethyl 4-styrenesulfonate (E4S) into a high crystalline PEEK substrate (degree of crystallinity: 32%) hardly progressed, whereas graft polymerization into a low crystalline PEEK substrate (degree of crystallinity: 11%) gradually progressed, achieving a grafting degree of more than 50% after 72 h.

Polymer

The truth is you can hardly progress in your life if you are experiencing mental health issues.

Forbes

Thirteen years after 9/11 and as the American people and military recover from two enormously destructive wars analysis has hardly progressed beyond saying that violence is the problem, and never-ending war is the answer.

Huffington Post

It's hardly progress.

The Guardian

"If those women are sitting there as nonexecutive directors with as much actual decision-making responsibility as a vase of flowers, that is hardly progress," Ms. Hotston Moore said.

The New York Times

Three years ago violently segregated reactions to the O. J. verdict revealed a racial chasm no sooner noted than forgotten; it's hardly progress that an even starker split now greets the Starr rap on Bill Clinton.

The New York Times

When the British applied their law to Muslims in place of Shariah, as they did in some colonies, the result was to strip married women of the property that Islamic law had always granted them — hardly progress toward equality of the sexes.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hardly progressing" to describe situations where development or advancement is significantly slower or less than expected. It's useful for conveying a sense of disappointment or concern about the pace of progress.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "hardly progressing" may sound less formal than alternatives like "demonstrating limited advancement" in certain business or academic contexts. Consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing when choosing this phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly progressing" functions as an adverbial modifier describing the manner in which something is advancing or developing. It conveys that the progress is minimal or almost nonexistent. As indicated by Ludwig, it's a grammatically correct expression.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hardly progressing" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe situations where advancement is minimal or slower than expected. While Ludwig confirms its correctness, its usage may imply disappointment or concern about the pace of progress. It's most frequently found in news and scientific contexts and carries a neutral tone, although more formal language may be preferred in certain settings. Consider alternatives like "barely advancing" or "making little headway" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Barely advancing

Emphasizes minimal forward movement or development.

Making little headway

Focuses on the difficulty in making progress.

Showing scant improvement

Highlights the lack of noticeable enhancement.

Stagnating

Indicates a complete lack of progress or movement.

Remaining at a standstill

Suggests that something is not advancing or changing.

Experiencing minimal advancement

Highlights the slight amount of forward movement.

Almost no progress

Directly states the absence of significant development.

Inching forward slightly

Implies slow and difficult forward movement.

Not gaining momentum

Suggests a lack of increasing speed or progress.

Lacking significant development

Emphasizes the absence of important progress.

FAQs

How can I use "hardly progressing" in a sentence?

You can use "hardly progressing" to describe a situation where something is not advancing or improving as expected. For example, "Despite the new initiatives, the project is "hardly progressing"".

What are some alternatives to saying "hardly progressing"?

Alternatives include "barely advancing", "making little headway", or "showing scant improvement", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "hardly progressing" the same as "not progressing at all"?

No, "hardly progressing" implies some minimal level of advancement, whereas "not progressing at all" suggests a complete lack of movement or improvement. "Hardly progressing" indicates that the pace of progress is very slow or insignificant.

Which is more appropriate, "hardly progressing" or "making slow progress"?

"Making slow progress" is more neutral and simply describes the speed of advancement. "Hardly progressing" carries a slightly more negative connotation, suggesting that the progress is so minimal as to be almost negligible.