is ongoing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is ongoing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or situation that is currently in progress or continuing. Example: "The investigation into the matter is ongoing, and we will provide updates as more information becomes available."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Is a country close to one of the three main holdouts or to a country where an outbreak is ongoing?

Science Magazine

An investigation is ongoing.

The New York Times

The clinic's investigation is ongoing.

Science Magazine

"This is ongoing research," Peters says.

Science Magazine

Work on that front is ongoing.

Science Magazine

The survey is ongoing and recruiting participants.

Science Magazine

The last one, which he brought last year, is ongoing.

Science Magazine

However, peer review of the Hansen paper is ongoing.

Science Magazine

The research is ongoing, and you can participate, too.

Science Magazine

But make sure that the success is ongoing.

Science Magazine

A scientific misconduct investigation at Duke is ongoing, according to the university.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is ongoing" to describe processes, investigations, research, or other activities that are currently active and not yet completed. This emphasizes the present state of continuation.

Common error

Avoid using "is ongoing" to describe actions or events that have already finished. Instead, use past tense verbs or phrases like "was completed" or "has concluded".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is ongoing" functions as a present continuous verb phrase, indicating that an action or state is currently in progress. Ludwig AI examples show its use in describing current investigations, research, and processes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

78%

News & Media

18%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is ongoing" is a present continuous verb phrase used to describe actions or situations currently in progress. Ludwig AI analysis indicates that it's grammatically correct and very common, particularly in scientific and news contexts. When writing, use "is ongoing" to clearly convey that an activity is still active and avoid using it for completed events. Alternatives like "is in progress" or "is continuing" can provide similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is in progress

Emphasizes the active state of something currently happening.

is continuing

Highlights the uninterrupted nature of an action or event.

is underway

Suggests that something has already started and is moving forward.

is proceeding

Implies a more formal or structured sense of progress.

is being conducted

Focuses on the action of carrying out a task or activity.

is unfolding

Suggests a gradual revelation or development of events.

is developing

Emphasizes growth or advancement over time.

is advancing

Highlights the forward movement and improvement of something.

is evolving

Indicates a gradual change or transformation.

remains in effect

Focuses on the continued validity or operation of a rule or agreement.

FAQs

How do you use "is ongoing" in a sentence?

Use "is ongoing" to indicate that something is currently in progress. For example, "The investigation "is ongoing", and updates will be provided as they become available."

What are some alternatives to "is ongoing"?

You can use phrases like "is in progress", "is continuing", or "is underway" as alternatives to "is ongoing", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "is ongoing" versus "has been ongoing"?

"Is ongoing" describes something currently in progress, while "has been ongoing" describes something that started in the past and continues to the present. For instance, "The project "is ongoing"" means it's happening now, whereas "The project "has been ongoing" for three years" indicates it started three years ago and is still active.

Can "is ongoing" be used to describe future events?

No, "is ongoing" is used to describe current activities or states. To refer to future events, use phrases like "will be ongoing" or "is scheduled to continue".