making progress

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "making progress" is correct and usable in written English, and you can use it when you wish to describe a situation in which someone or something is improving, advancing or developing.
For example, "The team is making progress on the project, and they should have it finished by the end of the week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were making progress.

The New Yorker

Are we making progress?

The New York Times

I'm making progress".

The New York Times

We were making progress".

The New York Times - Sports

We're definitely making progress.

Independent

Fruit is making progress.

The Economist

But we're making progress".

The New York Times

"I'm making progress," Jeter said.

The New York Times - Sports

"I saw us making progress.

The New York Times - Sports

But he is making progress.

The Economist

I think we're making progress.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the progress of a project, team, or individual, use "making progress" followed by a specific detail or metric to quantify the advancement. For example, "The team is making progress, having completed 75% of the initial milestones."

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions after "progress". It is common to see errors such as "progress on", when "progress with" or simply "making progress" followed by a description is more appropriate. For example, "The negotiations are making progress with resolving the key disputes."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making progress" functions as a verb phrase often used with a subject to indicate advancement or improvement. Ludwig examples show its use across diverse subjects ranging from personal recovery to global economics, affirming its broad applicability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Formal & Business

19%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "making progress" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to communicate advancement or improvement. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it adheres to standard English conventions. Its prevalence in news, business, and scientific contexts indicates broad applicability across various registers. When using the phrase, ensure that the context clearly supports the notion of positive development and consider quantifying the progress with specific details or metrics for enhanced clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

showing improvement

Emphasizes the visible signs of progress.

moving forward

Focuses on the act of advancing, often used in a more abstract sense.

improving steadily

Emphasizes the consistent nature of the improvement.

advancing gradually

Similar to "improving steadily", highlighting the incremental nature of the progress.

gaining ground

Uses a more figurative expression to indicate improvement or advancement.

developing positively

Highlights the positive aspect of the development or progress.

achieving advancements

Replaces "making" with "achieving" and "progress" with the more formal "advancements."

getting better

A more informal and general way to express improvement.

heading in the right direction

Similar to "on the right track", suggesting a positive trajectory.

on the right track

Indicates that current actions are leading toward a successful outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "making progress" in a sentence?

You can use "making progress" to describe improvement or advancement in various contexts. For example, "The student is "making progress" in their studies", or "The project team is "making progress" towards the deadline".

What are some alternatives to saying "making progress"?

Alternatives include "gaining ground", "improving steadily", "showing improvement", or "moving forward". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "making progress on" something?

While it's common, using "making progress on" can sometimes be less direct than simply stating what progress is being made with or towards. "We are "making progress" on the new design" is fine, but "We are "making progress" with the new design" may improve clarity and the reader's feeling.

What's the difference between "making progress" and "achieving progress"?

"Making progress" emphasizes the ongoing process of improvement, while "achieving progress" focuses on the accomplishment of a specific advancement. You are "making progress" when you are actively improving, and you have "achieved progress" once a measurable improvement has been made.