progress has been limited

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "progress has been limited" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when describing something that has not been able to advance as far or as quickly as desired. For example: "Despite our best efforts, progress on the project has been limited."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

But progress has been limited.

The Economist

But elsewhere progress has been limited.

The Economist

The effort has been well-received here, even if concrete progress has been limited.

The Guardian

In 2008, the government launched a Peace, Recovery and Development Plan, but progress has been limited.

The Guardian

Privately, many American officials in Iraq are concerned that political progress has been limited, though.

The New York Times

Despite the obvious importance of the hours problem, progress has been limited.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

But he told the Guardian that progress had been "limited".

The Guardian

But a report released by Amnesty International in Hong Kong indicated that progress had been limited.

The New York Times

However, progresses have been limited by many constraints resulting from the large size and long-live of trees and therefore the difficult to assess phenotypes on large numbers of individuals for exploring both the genetic effect or genetic by environment interaction.

Advances in Botanical Research

Linux developers say that while progress until now has been limited, they are confident they can now rapidly close the gap on Microsoft.

The New York Times

"Vice President Biden is correct that progress in cancer has been limited by the lack of data sharing.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "progress has been limited", provide context. Explain what specific area or project has seen limited progress and, if possible, the reasons behind it. For example: "While initial efforts were promising, progress in renewable energy adoption has been limited due to infrastructure challenges."

Common error

Avoid using "progress has been limited" when there has been significant advancement. If substantial gains have been made, even if targets haven't been fully met, acknowledge the progress before addressing remaining challenges. Using "progress has been made" might be more appropriate in such scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "progress has been limited" functions as a descriptive statement, indicating that the rate or extent of advancement in a specific area is less than desired or expected. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "progress has been limited" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe situations where advancement has been slower or less extensive than expected. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread applicability. While versatile, it's most frequently encountered in news, scientific, and academic contexts. When using the phrase, providing context and specific reasons for the limited progress enhances clarity and impact. Alternatives like "development has been slow" or "achievements have been modest" can offer nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

advancement has been restricted

Focuses on the restriction hindering forward movement rather than the limitation of progress itself.

development has been slow

Highlights the slowness of development as opposed to a complete limitation of progress.

growth has been stunted

Emphasizes the stunted nature of growth, suggesting incomplete or hindered development.

achievements have been modest

Indicates that while there have been achievements, they are small in scale or impact.

gains have been minimal

Suggests very small or insignificant improvements or advances.

headway has been slight

Focuses on the small amount of forward movement or advancement made.

improvements have been marginal

Emphasizes the small degree of improvement, close to the limit.

expansion has been constrained

Highlights the constrained nature of expansion, suggesting external factors limiting growth.

momentum has stalled

Indicates that the forward driving force has stopped, leading to limited progress.

the pace has been slow

Highlights a slow pace of progress, as opposed to progress being limited in general.

FAQs

How can I use "progress has been limited" in a sentence?

You can use "progress has been limited" to describe situations where advancement has not met expectations. For example: "Despite significant investment, "progress has been limited" in reducing carbon emissions."

What are some alternatives to saying "progress has been limited"?

Alternatives include "development has been slow", "achievements have been modest", or "gains have been minimal", depending on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to say "progress was limited" or "progress has been limited"?

"Progress was limited" generally refers to a specific past event, while "progress has been limited" suggests a continuing state up to the present. Choose the tense that best reflects the timeline you are describing.

What factors might explain why "progress has been limited" in a particular area?

Various factors can contribute, including funding constraints, technological challenges, policy barriers, or unforeseen circumstances. Always provide specific reasons if possible, rather than just stating that "progress has been limited".