how are they going

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence 'how are they going' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this sentence to ask someone about the progress of their plans or actions. For example, "I heard the Smiths are planning a trip abroad - How are they going with the preparations?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

How are they going to police that?

Independent

How are they going to live?

The Economist

"How are they going to respond?

The New York Times - Sports

How are they going to make money?

The Guardian - Music

How are they going to do that?

The Guardian

How are they going about it?

The Guardian - Tech

How are they going to do it?

The Guardian

"How are they going to survive?

The New York Times

"How are they going to get back?

The New York Times

How are they going to cope otherwise?

The New York Times

How are they going to beat ISIS?

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "how are they going", ensure the context clearly indicates what "they" refers to, avoiding ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "How are they going to address the issue?", specify "How is the team going to address the issue?".

Common error

Avoid using "how are they going" when you need to clearly express past tense or completed actions. "Going" implies an ongoing or future action, and using it incorrectly can create confusion about when the actions took place.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how are they going" serves primarily as an interrogative clause, used to inquire about the method, progress, or future plans of a group. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and widely used. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its use in various contexts, from inquiring about survival strategies to marketing plans.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "how are they going" is a versatile and grammatically sound interrogative used to inquire about the methods, progress, or future plans of a group. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and its prevalence across various sources like news outlets, scientific publications, and business communications highlights its adaptability. When using the phrase, ensure clarity in the context to avoid ambiguity and focus on ongoing or future actions. Alternatives such as "what is their plan" or "how will they proceed" can be used depending on the desired nuance. As seen in the numerous examples, the phrase effectively elicits information about strategies and steps being taken toward a particular goal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how will they proceed

Focuses on the future action or method being considered.

how are they planning to act

Emphasizes the planning stage and anticipated actions.

what is their plan of action

Emphasizes a pre-determined strategy or course of action.

what steps are they taking

Highlights the specific actions or measures being implemented.

how do they intend to act

Focuses on intentions and the manner of action.

what's their approach

Refers to the overall strategy or methodology they are using.

how do they expect to proceed

Focuses on the expectations and predicted course of action.

how will they manage

Implies a focus on coping with challenges or difficulties.

what are their next moves

Focuses on subsequent actions and strategic decisions.

what is their strategy

Highlights the overall plan they are implementing.

FAQs

How can I use "how are they going" in a sentence?

You can use "how are they going" to inquire about the process or progress of an activity. For example, "How are they going with the renovations?" or "How are they going to handle the increased workload?"

What's the difference between "how are they going" and "how are they doing"?

"How are they going" typically refers to the process or method being used, while "how are they doing" generally refers to their overall well-being or current state.

What can I say instead of "how are they going"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "what is their plan", "how will they proceed", or "what steps are they taking".

Is "how are they going" grammatically correct?

Yes, "how are they going" is grammatically correct when used to ask about the means, method, or progress of an action or plan.