how things are working

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "how things are working" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to inquire about the functioning or status of a process, system, or situation. Example: "I would like to understand how things are working in the new project to ensure we are on track."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

That's not how things are working out.

The New York Times

Here, after surgery, a nurse administers an electrocardiogram to see how things are working.

The New York Times

"December is the first month where we're getting an indication of how things are working.

The Washington Post

When your social media strategy is up and running, analysing how things are working can help develop your plan.

The Guardian

You have to ask yourself what you want professionally and how things are working and what you want personally.

Harvard Business Review

Next week, on the blog and in this space, we will tell you how things are working out for Big D.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

A lot would come down to how things are worked out between the two countries in the event of a leave vote.

BBC

She had "frustration with how things were working" in Arizona, Ms. Nichols said, on issues like health care and small business taxes.

The New York Times

As it turned out, they abandoned those provisions by the time they completed their agreement because they were satisfied with how things were working out.

The New York Times

"We wanted to take some control over our own lives again and, if we could, to influence how things were working out.

The New York Times

But when the agency called to see how things were working out, the mother had a list of complaints, including that the nanny wasn't folding the laundry right.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When evaluating a project, use "how things are working" to assess whether the processes are efficient and meeting expectations. For example: "Let's review how things are working in the marketing department to identify areas for improvement."

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "how things are working" in formal reports. Instead, opt for more precise language like "effectiveness of operations" or "performance analysis" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how things are working" functions as a clause, typically dependent, used to inquire about or assess the state or progress of a situation, process, or system. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is usable and correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "how things are working" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to inquire about the state or progress of various processes and situations. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable expression. While generally neutral, consider more formal alternatives like "performance analysis" in certain professional contexts. Its frequency and presence across diverse sources, including news, academia, and science, highlight its broad applicability. Be mindful of context and choose the most precise language for clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how are things progressing

Emphasizes the forward movement and development of events.

how are things proceeding

Highlights the formal continuation or advancement of a process.

how is it going

Focuses on the overall progress or state of affairs.

how is everything going

Broadens the scope to include all aspects of a situation.

how's the situation

Focuses specifically on the state or circumstances of a particular event.

what's the status

Directly asks for the current condition or standing.

how's the project coming along

Specifically inquires about the advancement of a project.

how are we doing

Asks about the group's performance or progress toward a goal.

how effective is it

Shifts the focus to the degree of success or impact.

what's the result

Asks about the final outcome or consequence.

FAQs

How can I use "how things are working" in a sentence?

You can use "how things are working" to inquire about the functionality or status of a process or system. For example, "I'd like to know "how things are working" with the new software update."

What can I say instead of "how things are working"?

Alternatives include "how is it going", "how are things progressing", or "what is the status", depending on the specific context.

Is "how things are working" formal or informal?

The phrase "how things are working" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives might be preferred in certain professional settings.

Which is correct, "how things are working" or "how things work"?

"How things are working" refers to the current state or ongoing processes, while "how things work" describes the general functionality or underlying principles. The correct choice depends on the intended meaning.