not much has been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not much has been" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that there has been little change or progress regarding a particular subject or situation. Example: "In terms of the project's development, not much has been accomplished since our last meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Not much has been modernised.

The Guardian

NOT much has been going right for Zimbabwe.

The Economist

"That suggests not much has been done," said Lungren.

The Washington Post

But not much has been done to date.

The Guardian

For the youth, not much has been invested.

The Guardian

However, not much has been done to optimize the Quality of Services (QoS) of WSN.

Computer Communications

However, not much has been written about concrete actions that enhance or harm a leader's credibility.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Though he has asked for help from the government, not much has been forthcoming.

The New York Times

That makes me feel as if not much has been accomplished this season.

The New York Times - Sports

Not much has been written about infinitely loving open-armed women rejected by their little boys.

The New York Times - Books

But not much has been focused on Sullivan, the other senator from Alaska, Shakir said.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "not much has been", ensure the context clearly indicates what specific actions or developments are lacking. This prevents ambiguity and strengthens the statement's impact.

Common error

Avoid using "not much has been" as a vague, general statement. Always specify what 'much' refers to. For example, instead of saying "Not much has been done," say "Not much has been done to address climate change."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not much has been" primarily functions as an assessment of limited progress or action. It indicates a deficiency in activity or development concerning a specific subject. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

38%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not much has been" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate a lack of progress or action. As noted by Ludwig, it is indeed correct and usable in written English. Its versatility allows it to be used across various registers, from neutral news reports to formal academic papers. Its primary function is to assess limited progress, and its purpose is to highlight deficiencies requiring attention. While alternatives like "little has occurred" or "minimal progress has been made" exist, "not much has been" remains a common and effective way to convey a lack of sufficient activity or development.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

little has occurred

Replaces "much" with "little" and "been" with "occurred", slightly formalizing the tone.

few things have been done

Focuses on the limited number of actions completed.

minimal progress has been made

Emphasizes the lack of advancement using "minimal progress" instead of focusing on the absence of action.

not significantly has been

Emphasizes the lack of significant developments, focusing on the importance of the changes that did not happen.

there has been a scarcity of action

Shifts the focus to the "scarcity of action", highlighting the inactivity.

little to nothing has been accomplished

Stresses the lack of achievement, emphasizing that almost nothing has been successfully completed.

not a great deal has transpired

Uses "a great deal" to replace "much" and "transpired" for "been", making it slightly more formal.

scant progress has been evident

Replaces the active construction with a passive one, emphasizing that little progress is visible.

there's not been much activity

Rephrases to highlight the absence of activity rather than the lack of something done.

hardly anything has been undertaken

Emphasizes the lack of initiation or commencement of actions.

FAQs

How can I use "not much has been" in a sentence?

Use "not much has been" to express that little progress or action has occurred regarding a specific subject. For example, "Not much has been done to improve the city's infrastructure this year."

What phrases are similar to "not much has been"?

You can use alternatives such as "little has occurred", "minimal progress has been made", or "few things have been done" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "not much has been done" or "little has been done"?

Both "not much has been done" and "little has been done" are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations. Consider also the more formal alternative "minimal progress has been made".

When is it appropriate to use "not much has been" in writing?

It is appropriate to use "not much has been" in situations where you want to point out a lack of progress or activity. This can be in formal reports, news articles, or even casual conversations, as long as the context is clear.