made a lot of progress

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "made a lot of progress" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate significant advancement or improvement in a particular area or task. Example: "After several months of hard work, we have made a lot of progress on the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

"We've made a lot of progress".

The New York Times

"I think he's made a lot of progress," Girardi said.

The New York Times

"The countries around us made a lot of progress.

The New York Times

The South has made a lot of progress," he said.

The New York Times

"We've made a lot of progress," she said cautiously.

The New York Times

"The team," he added, "has made a lot of progress.

The New York Times - Sports

"We made a lot of progress," Kerry told reporters there.

The New Yorker

"The sector has made a lot of progress," he added.

The New York Times

"It's early, but we have made a lot of progress".

The New York Times - Tech

"Labour has made a lot of progress on this.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"We've already made a lot of progress in that regard".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "made a lot of progress", ensure that the context clearly indicates the area in which progress was achieved. For example, "We've made a lot of progress in our research efforts this quarter" provides more clarity than simply saying, "We've made a lot of progress."

Common error

Avoid using "made a lot of progress" without backing it up with specific examples or data. Overstating progress can undermine credibility; instead, provide concrete details to support your claim. If you can't support the claim, you can soften it saying "made some progress".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made a lot of progress" functions as a verb phrase, typically acting as the predicate of a clause. It indicates that a subject has advanced or improved substantially in a particular area. Ludwig provides several examples demonstrating this function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "made a lot of progress" is a common and grammatically correct way to express significant advancement or improvement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. To enhance clarity, it's best to specify the area where progress has been achieved and to support claims with concrete examples. While acceptable in formal writing, consider more sophisticated alternatives for a more elevated tone. Remember to avoid overstating progress without quantifiable evidence to maintain credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made considerable headway

Offers a synonym for "progress" and emphasizes the amount of advancement.

achieved substantial advancement

Replaces "made a lot of" with a more formal and emphatic expression of achievement.

realized great strides

Uses a different noun to represent progress, implying long steps forward.

advanced considerably

Uses a single verb to convey both the action and the degree of progress.

accomplished notable gains

Emphasizes the accomplishment of specific gains or benefits.

gained significant ground

Employs a metaphor to suggest progress as territorial gain.

improved markedly

Focuses on the improvement aspect, emphasizing the degree to which something has gotten better.

effected substantial change

Highlights the change that has occurred as a result of the progress.

moved forward significantly

Highlights the forward direction and the extent of the movement.

seen major development

Shifts the focus to the development aspect of the progress.

FAQs

How can I use "made a lot of progress" in a sentence?

You can use "made a lot of progress" to indicate significant advancement or improvement in a particular task or area. For example, "The team "made a lot of progress" on the project this week."

What are some alternatives to "made a lot of progress"?

Alternatives include phrases like "achieved significant progress", "advanced considerably", or "gained significant ground", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "made a lot of progress" or "made significant progress"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "made significant progress" may sound more formal and professional. The choice depends on the context and your desired tone.

Can I use "made a lot of progress" in formal writing?

Yes, "made a lot of progress" is acceptable in formal writing, especially when you want to convey a clear and direct message about improvement. However, consider using more sophisticated alternatives like "achieved substantial advancement" for a more elevated tone.