no headway

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "no headway" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that no progress is being made in a situation or task. Example: "Despite our efforts to resolve the issue, we have made no headway in finding a solution."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The French president made no headway.

The Guardian

Negotiations have made no headway so far.

The New York Times

[U.N. envoy Lakhdar] Brahimi has been making no headway diplomatically.

The New York Times

Even an articulate, sympathetic lawyer (Campbell Scott) makes no headway.

The New York Times

International mediators and Western diplomats have made no headway.

The Economist

The summit made no headway in doing so.

The Economist

A Pleasant Sort could make no headway: Typecast showed little.

The New York Times

No headway was made on the new constitution, however.

Britannica

Unlike at Lord's he could make no headway.

The Guardian - Sport

The original director, Michael Anderson, made no headway with it.

The New York Times

Belisarius could make no headway without adequate reinforcements, and in 549 he was recalled to Constantinople.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "no headway" to succinctly convey a lack of progress in negotiations, projects, or personal endeavors. Its slightly formal tone makes it suitable for professional and news contexts.

Common error

While "no headway" is generally acceptable, avoid overuse in very informal settings. Simpler phrases like "didn't get anywhere" might be more appropriate in casual conversations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "no headway" functions as a noun phrase typically used after verbs like 'make', 'gain', or 'achieve'. It indicates a lack of forward movement or progress in a particular situation, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

15%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "no headway" effectively conveys a lack of progress and is considered grammatically correct and usable in written English according to Ludwig. It's frequently found in news and media, as well as encyclopedia and academic contexts. While "no headway" is widely accepted, choosing simpler alternatives like "made no progress" may be more suitable for very informal settings. Remember, the consistent usage across authoritative sources validates its appropriateness in formal and semi-formal communication. You can replace it with "achieved no results", "gained no ground" or "failed to advance", depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made no progress

Replaces "headway" with the more common term "progress", maintaining the core meaning.

achieved no results

Focuses on the lack of tangible outcomes from an effort.

gained no ground

Emphasizes a lack of advancement or forward movement.

failed to advance

Highlights the failure to move forward from a current position.

did not succeed

Indicates a general lack of success in an endeavor.

came to a standstill

Suggests that progress has completely stopped.

reached a dead end

Implies that the path forward is blocked or impossible.

hit a brick wall

Figurative language implying an insurmountable obstacle.

got nowhere

Informal way of saying that no progress was made.

stalled

Implies a sudden stop in progress

FAQs

How can I use "no headway" in a sentence?

You can use "no headway" to indicate a lack of progress in various situations. For example: "Despite our efforts, we made "no headway" in negotiations."

What's a more formal way to say "no headway"?

A more formal alternative is "made no progress". Both phrases convey the same meaning, but "made no progress" might be preferred in academic or official contexts.

Are there any synonyms for "no headway" that are less formal?

Yes, less formal alternatives include "got nowhere" or "didn't advance", which are suitable for casual conversations.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "no headway"?

It's appropriate to use "no headway" when you want to express that there has been a lack of progress in a situation or task, particularly in professional, news, or slightly formal contexts. Remember that the phrase "made no progress" is semantically equivalent.