make little progress

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make little progress" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where someone or something is advancing or developing only slightly or minimally. Example: "Despite our efforts, we seem to make little progress on the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

We will make little progress now if we're excessively confrontational.

The Guardian

And the state seemed to make little progress in getting the scofflaws to pay.

The New York Times

If we never took risks with the unknown we would make little progress in medicine.

The New York Times - Health

But Tusk made clear they could make little progress until article 50 had been triggered.

The Guardian

Even when people work hard and stick to the rules, they often make little progress.

The New York Times

They left saying they could make little progress toward peace unless Washington pressed Israel to withdraw from Palestinian areas.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

The talks made little progress, however.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Until recently he had made little progress.

The Economist

Negotiations have stumbled along, making little progress.

The Economist

But the meeting made little progress.

The Economist

But they've made little progress since.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "make little progress", ensure that the context clearly indicates what area or task is experiencing limited advancement. Be specific to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "make little progress" when there is absolutely no progress at all. The phrase implies some minimal advancement, however slight. If there's no progress, use phrases like "completely stalled" or "failed to advance".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make little progress" functions as a verb phrase indicating a lack of substantial advancement or development in a particular endeavor. It typically modifies a subject to describe its current state of limited success.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

3%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "make little progress" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to describe limited advancement, commonly found in news, scientific, and business contexts. As confirmed by Ludwig, its function is to express concern about slow development. When using the phrase, ensure clarity regarding the specific area experiencing limited progress. Alternatives like "achieve limited advancement" or "gain minimal ground" can provide nuanced variations. While generally neutral in register, be mindful of overstating the degree of stagnation. The phrase is widely used and understood, making it a valuable addition to your vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

achieve limited advancement

Focuses on the limited degree of advancement achieved.

gain minimal ground

Emphasizes the small amount of progress made, using a spatial metaphor.

see scant improvement

Highlights the lack of visible or noticeable improvement.

advance marginally

Indicates progress, but only to a very small degree.

barely make headway

Stresses the difficulty in making any progress at all.

fail to gain traction

Suggests an inability to establish momentum or make forward movement.

remain stagnant

Highlights a lack of movement or progress, implying a standstill.

mark time

Conveys the idea of engaging in activity without making real progress.

grind to a halt

Emphasizes a gradual cessation of progress, eventually stopping completely.

not get far

Simple way to suggest a lack of considerable achievements.

FAQs

How can I use "make little progress" in a sentence?

You can use "make little progress" to describe situations where efforts are yielding minimal results. For example, "Despite their hard work, the team seemed to "make little progress" on the project".

What are some alternatives to saying "make little progress"?

Alternatives include "achieve limited advancement", "gain minimal ground", or "see scant improvement". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "make little progress" or "make small progress"?

"Make little progress" and "make small progress" are largely interchangeable. "Make little progress" emphasizes the insufficiency of the progress, while "make small progress" simply highlights the limited amount.

What's the difference between "make little progress" and "not make any progress"?

"Make little progress" implies some advancement, however slight, while "not make any progress" means there is a complete lack of forward movement. The choice depends on whether there has been any degree of advancement, however minimal.