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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
lag behind the progress of
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "lag behind the progress of" is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase can be used when you want to express that someone or something is lagging behind a certain level of progress. For example: "Many low-income countries are still lagging behind the progress of developed countries."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
News & Media
Formal & Business
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
1 human-written examples
In general, although it is easy to consider some possibilities that the loci in non-synonymous sites would cause variations in protein sequence and possibly cause the change of protein structure, to verify the biological effects of the identified selective loci will lag behind the progress of identifying selective loci in the next several years.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
59 human-written examples
Citigroup's comeback efforts still lag behind the progress made by other big banks since the financial crisis.
News & Media
This may sound like a truism of democratic statecraft today, but in the 1980s--the 1980s--the 1980s--the and Thatcher--the negotiation of cross-cultural exchange and understanding lagged far behind even the progress of nations to effect communication and trade.
News & Media
Therefore, India significantly lags behind developed nations in the progress of mortality transition that is, in demographic and epidemiological transition (28).
Science
Hello Kitty has caught the interest of academics, especially in Japan, where the progress of women has lagged behind other industrial nations.
News & Media
The region lags far behind the progress needed to meet the target on reducing the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water (MDG 7).
Formal & Business
The ED field lags behind other psychiatric fields (eg, mood, 4 anxiety, 5 and psychotic 6 disorders) in the progress of epidemiological research.
Science
However, despite intensive use of F. × ananassa in the industry, the progress of genetic and genomic research of this crop has lagged behind that of many other economically important plant species, because of its complex genome structure.
Science
However, the progress of storage construction has fallen behind.
Real progress in understanding translational regulatory mechanisms lags behind the claims of progress.
Science
The lag in educational progress of the children who stay behind in rural areas is corroborated by Meyerhoefer and Chen (2011) on data from the 1995 China Living Standards Survey (CLSS) in 2 north eastern provinces (Hebei and Liaoning).
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "lag behind the progress of", ensure that the subject you are discussing is demonstrably not advancing at the same rate as something else. Provide specific examples to illustrate the disparity.
Common error
Avoid using "lag behind the progress of" when simply comparing different entities without a clear sense of advancement or development. The phrase implies a directional movement forward that one subject isn't keeping up with.
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "lag behind the progress of" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a state of being slower or less advanced compared to the rate of development of something else. Ludwig confirms its correctness, supporting its role in grammatical English.
Frequent in
Science
41%
News & Media
38%
Formal & Business
12%
Less common in
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "lag behind the progress of" is a valid and commonly used phrase that describes a state of not advancing as quickly as something else. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct. It is most frequently found in scientific, news, and formal business contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. Related phrases include "fall behind the advancement of" and "trail the development of". When using this phrase, make sure that there is a clear sense of advancement and that you are comparing the rates of progress of two or more entities.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
fall behind the advancement of
Replaces "progress" with "advancement", focusing on the act of moving forward.
trail the development of
Uses "trail" instead of "lag", emphasizing being at the rear of a moving line or process, and replaces "progress" with "development".
be outstripped by the advancement of
Uses "outstripped" to highlight being surpassed, and "advancement" instead of "progress".
be eclipsed by the growth of
Emphasizes being overshadowed by development, using "eclipsed" and replacing "progress" with "growth".
not keep pace with the evolution of
Focuses on maintaining the same rate of advancement, substituting "progress" with "evolution".
be superseded by the unfolding of
Uses "superseded" to mean being replaced or set aside and "unfolding" instead of "progress".
be distanced from the forward march of
Highlights the increasing gap, using "distanced" and metaphorically replaces "progress" with "forward march".
be left in the wake of the advancement of
Emphasizes being left behind as a result of progress, changing to "advancement".
fail to match the strides of
Uses "fail to match" implying an inability to keep up with the advancement.
remain behind the curve of the advancement of
Highlights being behind current trends or developments, substituting "progress" with "advancement".
FAQs
How can I use "lag behind the progress of" in a sentence?
You can use "lag behind the progress of" to indicate that something is not advancing as quickly as something else. For example, "The development of rural infrastructure continues to "lag behind the progress of" urban areas".
What are some alternatives to "lag behind the progress of"?
Some alternatives include "fall behind the advancement of", "trail the development of", or "not keep pace with the evolution of".
Is it more appropriate to say "lag behind the progress of" or "fall behind the progress of"?
Both "lag behind the progress of" and "fall behind the progress of" are acceptable. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. "Lag" suggests a slower pace, while "fall" can imply a more sudden or significant drop.
What's the difference between "lag behind the progress of" and "hinder the progress of"?
"Lag behind the progress of" describes a situation where something is not advancing as quickly. "Hinder the progress of" means to actively obstruct or delay advancement.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested