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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
negative progress
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
"negative progress" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to a decline or lack of success or forward motion. For example, "Despite the team's best efforts, they experienced negative progress last month."
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Science
Academia
Alternative expressions(6)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
8 human-written examples
The world is making negative progress on climate change.
Boys recorded a negative progress score overall while girls had a positive figure.
News & Media
It is a kind of negative progress to discard, set aside or reduce in importance aspects of the debate that are red herrings or have become too central.
News & Media
Among classical musicians, no extended negative progress of the pure tone hearing threshold values was found in spite of the continued 16 years of musical noise exposure.
"It must be the unique area of science and technology where women have made negative progress," said Nicholas Pippenger, a mathematics professor at Harvey Mudd, who is married to Dr. Klawe.
News & Media
The reality is that we have made little or negative progress on job creation relative to population since the recession officially ended, and this trend continues: Why is this happening, and why do policy makers keep being surprised?
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
52 human-written examples
Last year's SATs are now acknowledged to have been so hard that even primary schools that performed above average have been given a negative progress-related target for next year's tests.
News & Media
In the detained state the ion may shuttle to nearby negative groups, progressing from one carboxyl to another, until it reaches the correct binding site, a concept known as the antenna effect [17].
Science
A very high proportion of NDF-negative patients progressed (91%) whereas 62% of NDF-positive patients progressed compared to a 70% progression rate in the total patient group.
Science
Holland, for instance, and Argentina must crave being in the position to linger over negatives while progressing to Russia.
News & Media
Only three of 61 FDG-PET-negative patients progressed and all were alive.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "negative progress", provide context to clarify what area or aspect is experiencing the decline or lack of advancement. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens the impact of your statement.
Common error
Avoid using "negative progress" as a general term without specifying the domain. For example, instead of simply stating there is "negative progress", specify "negative progress in climate change mitigation" or "negative progress in student test scores".
Source & Trust
88%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "negative progress" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object in a sentence. It describes a situation where advancement is not only absent but also declining. Ludwig examples show its usage in contexts ranging from climate change to academic performance.
Frequent in
News & Media
38%
Science
38%
Academia
12%
Less common in
Formal & Business
6%
Social Media
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "negative progress" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe situations where advancement is declining rather than improving. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. While not overly common, it appears across various reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, with primary contexts in News & Media and Scientific domains. When employing the phrase, ensure to provide specific context to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "lack of advancement" or "decline in progress" can be considered for nuanced expressions.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
lack of improvement
Focuses on the absence of any positive change or betterment.
decline in progress
Highlights a downward trend in the rate of improvement.
lack of advancement
Emphasizes the absence of forward movement, focusing on the stagnation.
lack of forward movement
Stresses the absence of progression, similar to "lack of advancement".
setback in development
Indicates a temporary halt or reversal in growth or improvement.
regression
A more formal term for returning to a previous, less developed state.
slippage
Implies a gradual decline or failure to maintain a previous level of success.
stalled progress
Indicates progress has stopped; not necessarily moving backwards, but not advancing either.
downward spiral
Suggests a continuous and worsening decline.
reversal of fortune
Indicates a change from positive to negative outcomes.
FAQs
How can I use "negative progress" in a sentence?
You can use "negative progress" to describe situations where there is a decline or lack of advancement. For instance, "The project experienced "negative progress" due to unforeseen challenges".
What are some alternatives to "negative progress"?
Alternatives include phrases like "lack of advancement", "decline in progress", or "setback in development", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.
Is "negative progress" grammatically correct?
Yes, "negative progress" is grammatically correct. It combines an adjective ("negative") with a noun ("progress") to describe a decline or lack of advancement.
What's the difference between "negative progress" and "lack of progress"?
"Negative progress" implies a step backward, while "lack of progress" simply means there has been no forward movement. The former suggests things have worsened, whereas the latter suggests stagnation. Examples of alternatives you may also use are "lack of advancement" or "decline in progress"
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
88%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested