making any progress

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "making any progress" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which someone is working towards a goal, and you want to ask if they have made any progress. For example, "Are you making any progress with your research project?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I wasn't making any progress".

The New Yorker

I asked if he was making any progress.

The New Yorker

Days turned to weeks and Ernesto wasn't making any progress.

The New Yorker

These are indispensable prerequisites to making any progress.

The New York Times

"We keep losing honest citizens and it feels like we're not making any progress".

Independent

Everybody thought, Now we're very close, but by 2011 no one was making any progress.

The New Yorker

"I don't think we're making any progress," Mara said in a telephone interview.

The New York Times - Sports

"It suggests we're not making any progress in combating rape in South Africa".

The Guardian

We are not making any progress in negotiations on that issue at all," he said.

The Guardian

He didn't seem to be making any progress, so I joined in the canoe inspection.

The New York Times - Arts

But what is the bad news, and what is the good news, and are we making any progress?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "making any progress" when you want to inquire about or assess the degree of advancement toward a specific objective. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Don't assume progress is being made without evidence. Always base your assessment on tangible results or clear indicators to ensure accurate evaluation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making any progress" functions primarily as an interrogative phrase used to inquire about the extent of advancement toward a particular goal or objective. Ludwig's examples shows a widespread use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "making any progress" is a versatile and commonly used phrase to inquire about advancement toward a goal. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, from news and media to scientific discussions. While alternatives like "making headway" and "gaining ground" offer similar meanings, "making any progress" remains a straightforward and widely understood way to assess ongoing efforts. Remember to base your assessment on clear indicators rather than assumptions to ensure accurate evaluations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

making headway

Similar to gaining ground, but can also refer to creating opportunities.

achieving advancement

Focuses on the achievement aspect of making progress.

gaining ground

Emphasizes the idea of overcoming obstacles and moving forward.

making strides

Suggests significant or noticeable progress.

showing improvement

Highlights visible signs of positive change.

moving forward

Indicates general movement towards a desired outcome, slightly broader in scope.

getting anywhere

An informal way of asking if any progress is being made.

advancing steadily

Focuses on consistent and continuous progress.

developing positively

Emphasizes the positive direction of development.

realizing gains

Focuses on the tangible benefits or results of progress.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "making any progress" in a formal context?

In a formal setting, you can use phrases such as "achieving advancement" or "showing improvement" to convey a similar meaning to "making any progress".

What's a more casual way to ask if someone is "making any progress"?

Informally, you might ask, "Are you "getting anywhere"?" which is a more relaxed way of inquiring about progress.

Is it always appropriate to use the phrase "making any progress"?

While "making any progress" is generally acceptable, consider the context. In highly formal or technical situations, more specific language might be preferred, such as quantifying the progress made.

What's the difference between "making headway" and "making any progress"?

"Making headway" often implies overcoming obstacles, while "making any progress" is a more general inquiry about advancement, regardless of difficulty.