making progress with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "making progress with" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the phrase when talking about a topic in which you are making advances or improvements, for example, "I'm making progress with learning Spanish."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Making progress with code status documentation.

Harvard University

But we really are making progress with C.F.L.'s, too.

The New York Times

"We are making progress with that," he said.

The Guardian

Corbyn was making progress with the big apppointments.

The Guardian

Many children quit before making progress with an instrument, then regret it as adults.

The New York Times

But industry groups are slowly making progress with standardising valuation methodology.

The Economist

"She felt I was making progress with my interior-design business.

The New Yorker

Iran is also making progress with its heavy-water reactor at Arak.

The Economist

Making progress with representatives of all 140-plus members of the WTO would be impossible.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Mr. Bush has made progress with Moscow.

The New York Times

They have even made progress with my mom's problem.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with a specific project, person or skill to provide clear context for the progress being made.

Common error

Avoid using redundant modifiers like "making forward progress with", as the word progress already implies forward movement. Additionally, ensure you use the correct preposition; while "making progress on" is often used for tasks, "making progress with" is typically preferred when discussing relationships, specific tools or complex ongoing situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making progress with" functions as a gerund phrase followed by a prepositional object. It indicates a continuous state of improvement or development. As shown in various examples from Ludwig, it often serves as the main predicate of a sentence to describe the status of a project, a relationship or a personal skill.

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "making progress with" is a highly effective and versatile English phrase used to denote ongoing improvement. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a grammatically correct and widely accepted expression. Whether you are discussing international diplomacy in The Economist, medical research in PubMed or educational milestones at Harvard University, this phrase provides a clear and professional way to signal that a situation is improving. For writers looking to vary their language, synonyms like "making headway with" or "advancing with" are excellent choices depending on the specific nuance required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

making headway with

Uses a nautical idiom to suggest overcoming resistance or obstacles

moving forward with

Emphasizes the continuous motion and future-oriented nature of the task

making strides with

Suggests significant or rapid steps toward a goal

advancing with

A more formal and direct synonym often used in technical or academic contexts

gaining ground with

Implies a strategic or competitive advantage being won

making inroads with

Focuses on the initial success of entering a new area or influencing a group

getting somewhere with

An informal and idiomatic way to express that efforts are finally yielding results

improving on

Focuses more on the quality of the object rather than the completion of the process

developing

A single-word alternative that encompasses the growth or creation process

achieving results with

Focuses on the measurable outcomes of the progress made

FAQs

How do I use "making progress with" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe improvement in various areas, such as "The student is "making progress with" her reading skills" or "We are "making progress with" the new software implementation".

What is the difference between "making progress with" and "making progress on"?

While often interchangeable, "making progress on" is frequently used for specific tasks (e.g., "making progress on" a report), whereas "making progress with" is often broader, involving people, tools or multi-faceted situations.

What are some more professional synonyms for "making progress with"?

In formal writing, you can use alternatives like "advancing with", "moving forward with" or "making headway with".

Is "making progress with" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is perfectly correct. According to Ludwig AI and numerous reputable sources like The New York Times and Harvard University, it is a standard way to express ongoing improvement.