minor progress

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "minor progress" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a small or insignificant amount of progress that has been made in a particular situation. Example: Despite facing many obstacles, the team was able to make minor progress on their project.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Through much of last summer and into the fall, only minor progress was made in settling the dispute.

The New York Times

A top administration official described the proceedings as "grueling" and said that even minor progress was a real victory.

The New York Times

Use of the recycled fine aggregate for the upper structures, however, shows minor progress because of the trade-off in aggregate quality and emission of fine particles.

Construction and Building Materials

In what could be construed as minor progress, National Basketball Association owners will deliver a response today to the players' latest proposal.

The New York Times - Sports

Legislative leaders met with Gov. George E. Pataki early today and made some minor progress toward an accord on a supplemental budget that would patch the holes in the austere spending plan passed two weeks ago.

The New York Times

Each fresh round of talks, typically begun with high hopes, provided the North with aid but eventually disintegrated after only minor progress on the dismantling of the North's nuclear weapons program.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Does President Clinton continue down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's preferred path of minor concessions, modest progress and high tension, sending Mr. Ross back to the Middle East yet again?

The New York Times

Drew Henson, the former University of Michigan quarterback who is expected to be the Yankees' third baseman for many years after he graduates from the minors, progressed markedly in the Arizona Fall League, which ended yesterday, and club officials believe he will be ready for the majors sometime next season.

The New York Times - Sports

Six weeks later, his diplopia had returned and a progress CT abdomen demonstrated a minor progression of the liver lesions.

BMC Cancer

I got married, went to work for Microsoft, and concluded that any changes in my cognitive ability were pretty minor, and progressing slowly enough so that the truck with my name on it is almost certain to arrive first.

The New Yorker

The chorus transitions to B minor, and progresses as B E E, before returning to G C G in its final bars.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "minor progress", ensure the context clearly indicates what larger goal the small advancement contributes to. This provides a sense of direction and purpose, even if the immediate gains are modest.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the impact of "minor progress". Present it realistically as a small step, not a major achievement, to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minor progress" functions as a noun phrase, where "minor" modifies the noun "progress". It describes the degree or extent of the advancement made. Ludwig AI shows the phrase is often used in the context of ongoing situations where advancement is slow or limited.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

38%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "minor progress" is a commonly used and grammatically correct expression used to describe limited or small advancements. As Ludwig AI confirms, it typically indicates that some headway has been made, but the overall goal remains distant. It's frequently found in news, scientific, and academic contexts. While it's important to acknowledge such progress, overstating its significance should be avoided. Alternatives like "slight advancement" or "modest improvement" can be used for variety. Remember to maintain a realistic perspective and contextualize the "minor progress" within the larger objective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight advancement

Focuses on the small degree of forward movement.

limited success

Emphasizes the constrained nature of the positive outcome.

modest improvement

Highlights the moderate nature of the betterment.

marginal gain

Stresses the minimal amount of benefit achieved.

small step forward

Emphasizes the incremental nature of the progress.

tiny breakthrough

Highlights the diminutive scale of the positive change.

incremental development

Stresses the step-by-step nature of the advancement.

limited headway

Emphasizes the restriction in the rate of advancement.

baby steps

Informal way of saying very small steps.

token gesture

Implies the advancement is more symbolic than substantial.

FAQs

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

You can use "minor progress" to describe situations where some advancement has been made, but the overall goal is far from being achieved. For example, "Despite the challenges, we've made "minor progress" in negotiations".

What are some alternatives to saying "minor progress"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "slight advancement", "modest improvement", or "limited success" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to celebrate "minor progress"?

While it's important to acknowledge any steps forward, celebrating "minor progress" should be done in moderation. It's a good idea to recognize the effort involved but avoid overstating the achievement.

What's the difference between "minor progress" and "major breakthrough"?

"Minor progress" indicates a small, incremental step forward, while "major breakthrough" signifies a significant and impactful advancement. They represent vastly different scales of achievement.