is progressing toward

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is progressing toward" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is moving forward or making advancements in a particular direction or goal. Example: "The project is progressing toward its completion date, and we expect to finish on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

If it moves from the cone's tip to its base, a piece is progressing toward dissonance.

MIT Technology Review

The New Horizons mission is progressing toward its planned launch in January 2006.

Acta Astronautica

I know that if in 20 years Iraq is free and the Arab world is progressing toward normalcy, no one will doubt that I did the right thing.

The New York Times

Whatever the exact date, it added, "Iran is progressing" toward the ability to quickly make enough weapon-grade uranium for a warhead.

The New York Times

(The final part of that $100 million initiative — sprucing up the wing's painting galleries — is progressing toward the scheduled 2011 completion).

The New York Times - Arts

Last month, in a speech in Cleveland, President Bush hailed the achievement in Tal Afar as evidence that Iraq is progressing toward a stable future.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

One step closer: The feat is progress toward enabling robots to go anywhere a person can.

MIT Technology Review

The Palestinians' chief goal is progress toward a state, and to them a cease-fire looks increasingly like an obstacle.

The New York Times

This is progress toward a safer world we can only hope to achieve with nuclear or biological weapons.

The Guardian - Opinion

One small ray of light is progress toward a target of gaining protected status for 17% of ecosystems on land, which is on track.

The Guardian

The apparent breakdown comes just as Congress and the White House are struggling to find evidence that there is progress toward reconciliation and a functioning government here.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is progressing toward" to describe ongoing developments and advancements, especially when referring to projects, goals, or states of being. For example: "The company is progressing toward its sustainability goals."

Common error

Avoid using "is progressing toward" to describe static or unchanging conditions. This phrase implies movement and development, so it's unsuitable for situations that are not evolving. Instead of saying "The situation is progressing toward stable", consider "The situation is becoming stable".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is progressing toward" functions as a verb phrase indicating ongoing movement or advancement in a specific direction. It combines the auxiliary verb "is", the present participle "progressing", and the preposition "toward" to convey a sense of gradual development. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples demonstrating this function.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is progressing toward" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe ongoing movement or advancement towards a specific goal. Ludwig AI confirms that it's frequently used in News & Media and Science contexts. While "is progressing toward" is generally considered correct, it's essential to use it accurately, avoiding static situations. Alternatives such as "is moving toward" or "is advancing toward" can be used for variety. By understanding its function and purpose, writers can effectively use this phrase to convey a sense of gradual development.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is moving toward

Uses a different verb ("moving" instead of "progressing") to convey a similar sense of advancement.

is advancing toward

Replaces "progressing" with "advancing", suggesting forward movement.

is heading toward

Emphasizes directionality, implying a course is being followed.

is working toward

Focuses on the effort being made to achieve a specific goal.

is developing into

Suggests a gradual transformation or evolution.

is evolving toward

Highlights the evolutionary aspect of the progress.

is making strides toward

Implies significant progress or notable advancements.

is on track to

Indicates that a planned course is being followed successfully.

is on the path to

Similar to "on track to", but emphasizes the journey or process.

is underway to

Focuses on the ongoing nature of the process towards a goal.

FAQs

How do I use "is progressing toward" in a sentence?

Use "is progressing toward" to indicate that something is moving forward or advancing in a specific direction or towards a particular goal. For example, "The research is progressing toward a breakthrough."

What are some alternatives to "is progressing toward"?

You can use alternatives like "is moving toward", "is advancing toward", or "is working toward" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "is progressing to" instead of "is progressing toward"?

While "is progressing to" might sometimes be grammatically correct, it usually implies a direct transition to a new state, whereas "is progressing toward" suggests movement in a general direction. For example, "The project is progressing to the next phase" is correct, but "The project is progressing toward completion" is more common.

What's the difference between "is progressing toward" and "is regressing toward"?

"Is progressing toward" indicates a positive development or movement towards a goal, while "is regressing toward" indicates a negative development or movement away from a desired state.