made some progress

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'made some progress' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to tangible progress made towards a goal. For example, "We've been working hard on our project and we've made some progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Have they made some progress?

Independent

He has made some progress.

The Economist

Overall, he made some progress.

The Economist

Maneka made some progress politically.

The New Yorker

Kenya has made some progress.

The Economist

So we've made some progress".

The New Yorker

It made some progress and won plaudits.

The New York Times

Guatemalan authorities have made some progress.

The New York Times

I guess we have made some progress.

The New Yorker

We have made some progress.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Still, I've made some progress.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "made some progress" when you want to communicate that there has been advancement, but the task is not yet complete. It acknowledges effort and positive movement without overstating the achievement.

Common error

Avoid using "made some progress" when the advancement is significant or substantial. In such cases, consider stronger phrases like "made significant strides" or "achieved considerable success" to accurately reflect the extent of the achievement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made some progress" functions as a statement indicating that advancement or improvement has occurred. Ludwig AI confirms that it is appropriate for general use, as seen in numerous examples from various sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "made some progress" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate that a degree of advancement has been achieved. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate across various contexts, particularly in news, academic and scientific writing. When using this phrase, it's important to accurately represent the extent of the advancement and avoid overstating the achievement. Consider related phrases like "made headway" or "improved somewhat" to fine-tune the message. Keep in mind that a neutral register is best suited for the phrase and consider its versatile usage in conveying advancement without giving a sense of completion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made headway

Implies overcoming resistance and difficulty in making forward movement.

moved forward slightly

Emphasizes the action of moving ahead, specifying that the movement was minimal.

improved somewhat

Highlights the aspect of improvement, suggesting a change for the better to a limited degree.

achieved some advancement

Replaces "progress" with a more formal term, "advancement", emphasizing the act of moving forward.

advanced a little

Focuses on the forward movement, indicating a slight degree of progression.

seen some development

Shifts the focus to the unfolding or evolving aspect of the progress.

taken steps forward

Emphasizes the deliberate actions taken to ensure progress.

gained ground

Uses a more metaphorical expression implying overcoming obstacles to move forward.

demonstrated slight betterment

Uses more formal and technical terms to express a small degree of improvement.

reached a milestone

Highlights the achievement of a significant point in the progression.

FAQs

How can I use "made some progress" in a sentence?

You can use "made some progress" to indicate that there has been advancement towards a goal, but the task is not yet finished. For example, "We've been working on the project and we've "made some progress", but there's still more to do".

What are some alternatives to saying "made some progress"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "made headway", "gained ground", or "improved somewhat" instead of "made some progress".

Is it appropriate to use "made some progress" in formal writing?

Yes, "made some progress" is generally appropriate in formal writing, especially when you want to acknowledge advancement without overstating the achievement. However, for more impact, consider alternatives like "achieved some advancement".

What's the difference between "made some progress" and "made significant progress"?

"Made some progress" indicates a degree of advancement, whereas "made significant progress" implies a substantial or noteworthy advancement. Use "made significant progress" when the advancement is considerable.