not on track

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not on track" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate that something is not progressing as planned or expected. Example: "The project is not on track to meet its deadline." Alternative expressions include "off course" and "behind schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We're not on track for 2.4 kids (I'm not even on track for one, much to my dad's despair).

The Guardian

"China is not on track to meet that deadline.

The New York Times

Africa is not on track to meet a single MDG.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We are not on track to doing that now".

The New York Times - Science

It appears that most countries are currently not on track with their 2010 renewable targets.

Refocus

JIM DEMINT was not on track to become a pillar of the Senate.

The Economist

Indeed, already most countries are not on track even to meet their Paris pledges.

Columbia University

The UK is now not on track to meet its overall 2020 EU renewable energy target.

The Guardian

"And even with those weak targets, we're not on track to meet them.

The Guardian

Nearly a third of the 1,120 seniors were not on track to graduate on time.

The New York Times

Overall then we are not on track for an inclusive housing legacy.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase in professional reports to provide a neutral but firm assessment of a project's status without necessarily assigning blame.

Common error

Avoid using "not on track" for situations that do not involve a process or a goal-oriented trajectory. If something is simply in a poor state without a projected path, use adjectives like "inadequate" or "insufficient" instead.

Linguistic Context

In sentences, "not on track" typically functions as a subject complement following a linking verb like "to be". According to Ludwig AI data, it acts as an idiomatic modifier that qualifies the status of a project, person or entity in relation to a specific goal.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"not on track" is a robust and essential phrase for describing missed milestones and delayed progress. Ludwig AI analysis shows that it is particularly prevalent in high-stakes environments such as global health reporting (e.g. UN Millennium Development Goals) and international journalism. Its grammatical structure is stable and it is almost always followed by a prepositional phrase like "to meet" or "for success". Because it is clear and professional, it remains a preferred choice for writers who need to convey negative progress reports with precision and authority.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

off track

A more concise and direct version of the query, often implying a loss of focus.

behind schedule

Specifically emphasizes a delay in time rather than a general lack of progress.

not progressing as planned

A descriptive and neutral way to state that the current trajectory is wrong.

off course

Uses a navigational metaphor to suggest a deviation from the correct path or plan.

falling short

Focuses on the failure to reach a required standard or target quantity.

lagging behind

Suggests a slower rate of progress compared to others or an expected pace.

not meeting targets

More formal and explicit about the failure to achieve specific metrics.

missing milestones

Highlights the specific failure to achieve intermediary goals in a project.

failing to progress

A literal description of a lack of movement toward a goal.

underperforming

A professional term used to describe results that are below the expected level.

FAQs

How to use "not on track" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe any situation where progress is slower than planned, for example: "The team is "not on track" to complete the software update by Friday."

What can I say instead of "not on track"?

Depending on the context, you can use "behind schedule" for time-related delays or "off course" if a strategy has deviated from the plan.

Which is correct, "not on track" or "off track"?

Both are correct. "not on track" is often preferred in formal reports to describe a status relative to a target, while "off track" is slightly more idiomatic and can imply a loss of focus.

What's the difference between "not on track" and "underperforming"?

While "not on track" describes a current trajectory toward a future goal, "underperforming" usually refers to current output or results that are below a benchmark.