lagging substantially

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lagging substantially" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is significantly behind or delayed compared to a standard or expectation. Example: "The project's progress is lagging substantially behind the original timeline, causing concern among the stakeholders."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Not surprisingly, the evidence from these settings shows second generation immigrants lagging substantially behind their ethnic native counterparts in terms of educational achievement and, in particular, labor force participation, success in finding a job and wages (Nielsen et al. ([2003]), Rooth and Eckberg ([2003])).

IZA Journal of Migration

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The changes required to adapt to a 100-year life are already under way, but governments and businesses lag substantially behind the actions of individuals.

The Guardian - Opinion

The evidence – including the government's own – is that even before the two- or three-year public sector pay freeze, salaries for senior roles in the civil service lagged substantially behind jobs of equal weight elsewhere in the economy.

The Guardian

Yet, in spite of these incentives, young economically disadvantaged students lag substantially behind their middle- and upper-income counterparts in achieving postsecondary credentials, and minorities continue to lag behind white students.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

Additionally, certificate programs and work experience are particularly well-compensated among young men, especially African-American men who have difficulty gaining work experience and whose postsecondary attainments also lag substantially behind those of women.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

It is also apparent that probes for other metal ions have lagged substantially behind those for Zn2+ and Cu+.

Chemical Reviews

Life expectancy at birth in many Pacific Island Countries (PICs) is in the early to mid 60s and lags substantially behind the Western Pacific average of 74 years [ 2].

Human Resources for Health

At a time when there is slow and steady progress internationally in recruiting patients to clinical trials, involvement of many ethnic minority and under-served communities lags substantially behind.

British Journal of Cancer

The availability of genomics level information lags substantially in other legumes, although some progress has been made in pea (P. sativum), common bean (P. vulgaris), alfalfa (M. sativa), and peanut (Arachis hypogea) [ 7, 15- 18].

BMC Genomics

The results were backed by animal studies showing that constant light, dim light at night or simulated jet lag substantially boosted tumour development.

Independent

While New Zealand and the US have relatively well developed data collection systems to assess diabetes care among indigenous populations at the national level, Australia and Canada lag behind substantially in this area and have no national level diabetes care data available for indigenous populations.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lagging substantially" to clearly indicate a significant deficit or delay in comparison to a benchmark. This phrase works well in formal and analytical writing.

Common error

Avoid using "lagging substantially" in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "falling behind" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lagging substantially" functions as a descriptive phrase, indicating that something is significantly behind a particular standard or benchmark. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lagging substantially" is a grammatically correct expression used to indicate that something is significantly behind or delayed. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. Primarily found in science and news media contexts, it serves to emphasize the degree of underperformance relative to a standard. While appropriate for formal writing, simpler alternatives may be preferred in casual settings. Related phrases include "significantly behind" and "falling far behind". Remember to reserve its usage for professional and academic environments to maintain clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significantly behind

Replaces "lagging" with "behind" and uses "significantly" instead of "substantially" to convey a similar meaning.

considerably behind

Uses "considerably" to replace "substantially", implying a notable degree of being behind.

falling far behind

Emphasizes the act of "falling" behind, highlighting the process of lagging.

trailing significantly

Replaces "lagging" with "trailing", suggesting a visual sense of being behind, and maintains the emphasis with "significantly".

substantially behind schedule

Adds the context of "schedule", implying a delay in a planned timeline.

significantly delayed

Focuses on the "delay" aspect of lagging, emphasizing the temporal aspect.

markedly slower

Shifts the focus to speed, indicating a significant reduction in pace compared to a standard.

notably deficient

Highlights a "deficiency" or lack, rather than a simple delay, suggesting a more severe shortfall.

considerably less advanced

Emphasizes the lack of advancement, suggesting a lower level of progress.

noticeably inferior

Focuses on the lower quality or performance compared to a standard, highlighting a deficiency.

FAQs

What does "lagging substantially" mean?

The phrase "lagging substantially" means falling significantly behind a certain standard or expectation. It indicates a considerable deficit or delay.

What can I say instead of "lagging substantially"?

You can use alternatives like "significantly behind", "considerably behind", or "falling far behind" depending on the context.

How formal is the phrase "lagging substantially"?

"Lagging substantially" is relatively formal and best suited for professional, academic, or analytical writing. Simpler alternatives are more appropriate for casual conversation.

Is it better to say "lagging substantially" or "slightly lagging"?

The choice depends on the degree of difference. "Lagging substantially" indicates a significant gap, whereas "slightly lagging" indicates a minor difference.