make progress toward

USAGE SUMMARY

"make progress toward" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a common phrase used to mean to take steps in the direction of something. For example: "We have been making progress toward our goal of becoming paperless."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Making Progress Congressional resistance does not mean Mr. Obama cannot make progress toward his energy and environmental goals.

The New York Times

Make progress toward the research project, and leave time in Spring to write your report.

University of California, Berkeley

How might we help school leaders make progress toward deeper learning in their schools today?

Stanford University

With a goal in mind, leaders can identify opportunities to make progress toward it.

Harvard Business Review

"The trustee understands customer frustration and is urgently working to make progress toward distributions," Mr. Giddens said in the statement.

The New York Times

"If we don't make progress toward a two-state solution, there will be negative developments for the Israeli economy.

The New Yorker

Then, and urgently, it means trying to make progress toward secure, viable states of both Israel and Palestine.

The New York Times - Magazine

Environmentalism of the rich does little to bring about the sweeping institutional change necessary to make progress toward global sustainability.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

once implemented, is designed to make progress toward achieving the performance targets established under subsection (h)(2).

Cornell University

The authors found that all six studies demonstrated the importance of creating routines and habits to make progress toward goals.

Cornell University

"Our single admission program helped us to make progress toward those goals, to which we remain fully committed.

Princeton University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "make progress toward" to highlight ongoing development or movement in a specific direction, especially when the end goal is not yet achieved. For instance, "The team is making progress toward completing the project ahead of schedule."

Common error

Avoid using "make progress toward" when the goal has already been fully achieved. Instead of "We are making progress toward launching the product, which is already live", use "We have launched the product".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make progress toward" functions as a verb phrase indicating ongoing advancement or movement in the direction of a specific goal or objective. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a standard and acceptable construction in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Academia

37%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make progress toward" is a versatile and frequently used expression to describe advancement towards a goal. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. Predominantly found in news, academic, and business contexts, the phrase maintains a neutral register, suitable for diverse audiences. While alternatives exist, understanding the subtle nuances of each—like "advance toward" or "move closer to"—can enhance precision in writing. Remember to use it when movement towards a goal is ongoing, and not to use it if the goal is already achieved.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

advance toward

Uses "advance" instead of "make progress", slightly more formal.

move closer to

Emphasizes reducing the distance to a goal.

work towards

Highlights the effort involved in approaching a goal.

head in the direction of

Focuses on the direction of movement.

push forward to

Suggests a forceful movement toward a goal.

make strides towards

Implies significant advancements.

get closer to achieving

Explicitly mentions achievement.

approach

A more concise way of saying "make progress toward", less emphasis on the effort.

gain ground on

Suggests overcoming obstacles while moving towards something.

develop toward

Implies a gradual unfolding or evolution in the direction of a goal.

FAQs

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

You can use "make progress toward" to describe ongoing advancement. For example, "The company is "making progress toward" its sustainability goals".

What are some alternatives to "make progress toward"?

Alternatives include "advance toward", "move closer to", or "work towards", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "make progress toward" or "make progress on"?

"Make progress toward" is used to indicate movement in a direction, while "make progress on" refers to advancement on a specific task or project. Choose the preposition that best fits your intended meaning.

What does "make progress toward" imply about the goal?

"Make progress toward" suggests the goal is not yet fully achieved but that actions are being taken to get closer to it. The phrase emphasizes ongoing effort and development rather than immediate success.