make substantial progress

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make substantial progress" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing advancements or improvements in a particular area, project, or task. Example: "After several months of hard work, we are finally starting to make substantial progress on the new software development."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

"While we would value his cooperation, we are able to make substantial progress without it.

The New York Times - Sports

But before that could happen, both sides would have to make substantial progress, the official said.

The New York Times

Promising research advances suggest that scientists could well make substantial progress if given more funding.

The New York Times

By doing so, the panel and I believe that we can make substantial progress towards completing the inquiry by the end of 2020".

The Guardian

And if talks fail to make substantial progress, the new American president will probably want to start from scratch rather than pick up where his predecessor left off.

The New York Times

The channel is on plan, has met all the targets set for it by BBC Worldwide for the past year and will continue to make substantial progress.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

"We've made substantial progress.

The New York Times

Nevertheless, they have made substantial progress.

The New York Times

RBS is making substantial progress overall.

The Guardian - Business

American officials said they were making substantial progress.

The New York Times

But, Mr. Davy added, "we've made substantial progress with all areas of the plan".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "make substantial progress" when you want to emphasize significant and noticeable advancement, rather than minor or incremental steps. For example, use it when discussing project milestones or research breakthroughs.

Common error

Avoid using "make substantial progress" for minor improvements or incremental changes. This phrase implies a significant level of advancement, so reserve it for situations where the progress is truly noteworthy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make substantial progress" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of achieving significant advancement or improvement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid and commonly used expression to describe notable headway.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "make substantial progress" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe significant advancement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is prevalent across various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. It carries a neutral to professional register and emphasizes noteworthy improvements. While there are semantically similar phrases like "achieve significant advancement" or "make considerable headway", it's crucial to reserve "make substantial progress" for situations where the progress is genuinely significant. By understanding its grammatical function, communicative purpose, and appropriate usage, writers can effectively employ this phrase to convey clear and impactful messages.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

achieve significant advancement

Replaces "make progress" with "achieve advancement", adding a formal tone.

make considerable headway

Uses "headway" instead of "progress", implying forward movement despite difficulty.

make significant strides

Replaces "progress" with "strides", emphasizing rapid and noticeable advancement.

make marked improvement

Focuses on the improvement aspect, highlighting a clear and visible change.

make notable gains

Emphasizes the positive outcomes or benefits resulting from the progress.

make major inroads

Suggests overcoming obstacles and entering a new phase of development.

make real advancement

Highlights the genuineness and tangibility of the advancement made.

make fundamental changes

Indicates deep and impactful alterations, going beyond superficial progress.

make a quantum leap

Implies a dramatic and transformative jump forward, rather than gradual progress.

move the needle substantially

Uses an idiomatic expression to signify a significant impact or change.

FAQs

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

You can use "make substantial progress" to describe significant advancement in a particular area. For instance, "The team has "made substantial progress" on the project since last quarter".

What are some alternatives to "make substantial progress"?

Alternatives include "achieve significant advancement", "make considerable headway", or "make significant strides", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "made a substantial progress"?

No, the correct phrasing is ""made substantial progress"". The word "progress" is typically used as an uncountable noun, so it does not take the indefinite article "a".

What's the difference between "make substantial progress" and "make some progress"?

"Make substantial progress" implies a significant level of advancement, while "make some progress" suggests only a small or moderate level of advancement. The former is used when the progress is noteworthy; the latter, when it is less so.