making little progress

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "making little progress" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is not advancing or improving significantly in a task or goal. Example: "Despite our efforts, we are making little progress on the project and may need to reevaluate our strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Peace talks are making little progress.

The Guardian

Bank reform, even under Mr Koizumi, is making little progress.

The Economist

But the efforts to assemble a coalition to back devo max were making little progress.

The Guardian

But a poll released this week showed Mr. Bush making little progress.

The New York Times

Until recently, they were making little progress, gaining ground one day and losing it another.

The New York Times

Witnesses said the troops were making little progress 12 hours after the battles started.

The New York Times

Russian troops seemed to be making little progress, and a Chechen commander said they were being forced to retreat.

The New York Times

Ranged against it, an unlikely alliance of Tea Party Republicans, liberal Democrats, and war-weary moderates is making little progress.

The New Yorker

Meanwhile, May appeared to be making little progress in securing the backing of the Democratic Unionist party's 10 MPs.

The Guardian

Chris Clarke wrote that he first tried to leave at 3.10pm but gave up after making little progress.

The Guardian

Members were appointed a year ago, but reports persisted that they were making little progress and consumed by internal bickering.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a project's status, use "making little progress" to honestly reflect slow development without being overly negative. This can prompt a reevaluation of strategies.

Common error

Avoid phrasing that obscures who or what is "making little progress". Instead of saying "Progress is making little headway", specify: "The team is making little progress".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making little progress" functions as a verbal phrase, typically acting as a predicate within a clause. It describes the state of an entity with respect to its advancement towards a goal. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for describing situations where advancement is slow or minimal.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Encyclopedias

8%

Science

7%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "making little progress" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe situations where advancement is slow or minimal. As Ludwig AI states, this expression is perfectly correct. Predominantly found in News & Media, it's also seen in Encyclopedias and Science, suggesting a neutral register. Alternatives like "achieving limited results" or "gaining minimal ground" offer similar meanings, but "making little progress" effectively highlights the slow pace of development, often prompting a reassessment of strategies or methods.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

achieving limited results

Focuses on the outcomes rather than the process, highlighting the minimal achievement.

gaining minimal ground

Emphasizes the lack of territorial or strategic advancement.

seeing scant improvement

Highlights the lack of noticeable enhancement or betterment.

encountering setbacks

Focuses on obstacles hindering advancement.

stagnating

Indicates a complete lack of movement or progress.

treading water

Implies effort is being exerted merely to maintain the current state without advancing.

getting nowhere

A more informal way of saying no progress is being made.

bogged down

Suggests being stuck or delayed, impeding progress.

moving at a snail's pace

Emphasizes the slowness of the progress.

unable to advance

Directly states the inability to move forward.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "making little progress" to sound more formal?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "achieving limited results" or "observing scant improvement" to maintain a professional tone.

Is "making little progress" the same as "not making any progress"?

No, "making little progress" implies some minimal advancement, while "not making any progress" means there is absolutely no forward movement. The first suggests a slower pace, while the second indicates complete stagnation.

What verbs commonly collocate with "little progress"?

Verbs that frequently appear with "little progress" include "be", "make", and "see". For example, "We are making little progress" or "We see little progress".

How does context influence the use of "making little progress"?

The context determines the appropriate tone. In a business report, "making little progress" might necessitate a strategic overhaul. In personal development, it could indicate a need for revised methods.