has a long way to go

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has a long way to go" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means that there is still a lot of progress or improvement that needs to be made. Example: "The company has made some positive changes, but they still have a long way to go before they can become a successful competitor in the market."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It has a long way to go.

The Economist

She has a long way to go.

The New York Times

Integration has a long way to go".

The New York Times - Arts

Microsoft has a long way to go.

The New York Times - Tech

His party has a long way to go.

The Economist

In reality, it's still has a long way to go".

The New York Times

* * *  Greece still has a long way to go.

The New Yorker

But his agency has a long way to go.

The New York Times

Dr. Spitzer still has a long way to go.

The New York Times - Science

We fear it has a long way to go.

The New York Times

But the project still has a long way to go.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has a long way to go" to objectively assess the current state of a project, process, or situation, focusing on the remaining steps needed for completion or improvement.

Common error

Avoid using "has a long way to go" when praising an achievement. It's more appropriate to use it when setting expectations or addressing areas that still require improvement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has a long way to go" functions as an idiomatic expression used to indicate that a person, project, or situation requires substantial progress or improvement. Ludwig confirms the phrase's common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has a long way to go" is a common and grammatically sound idiom used to express that significant progress is still needed. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its correctness and frequent usage. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, it serves to set realistic expectations and highlight areas for improvement. While versatile, it's best used objectively and avoided in situations warranting pure praise. Alternatives like "needs significant improvement" or "requires considerable work" can offer subtle shifts in emphasis. The phrase's prevalence in authoritative sources underscores its reliability and widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has much ground to cover

Emphasizes the extent of the progress that still needs to be made.

needs significant improvement

Focuses on the necessity of substantial betterment.

is far from complete

Highlights the unfinished nature of the task or process.

remains largely unfinished

Similar to "is far from complete" but emphasizes the magnitude of the remaining work.

still requires considerable work

Stresses the amount of effort that is yet to be invested.

is just beginning

Suggests that the process is in its initial stages.

has a considerable distance to travel

Uses a metaphor of distance to represent progress.

has barely scratched the surface

Indicates that only a small part of the task has been addressed.

is in its early stages

Highlights the preliminary state of development.

is only halfway there

Highlights that only fifty percent of the goal has been accomplished.

FAQs

How can I use "has a long way to go" in a sentence?

You can use "has a long way to go" to indicate that something requires substantial progress or improvement. For example: "The project "has a long way to go" before it's completed."

What's the difference between "has a long way to go" and "is far from complete"?

"Has a long way to go" emphasizes the distance to be covered, whereas "is far from complete" focuses on the unfinished nature of something. They are similar but have slightly different connotations.

Which is correct: "has a long way to go" or "have a long way to go"?

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "has" with singular subjects (e.g., 'the project') and "have" with plural subjects (e.g., 'they'). So, "the project "has a long way to go"", but "they "have a long way to go"".

What can I say instead of "has a long way to go"?

You can use alternatives like "needs significant improvement", "requires considerable work", or "remains largely unfinished" depending on the specific context.