progress is lagging

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "progress is lagging" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where advancement or development is slower than expected or desired. Example: "Despite our efforts, progress is lagging on the project, and we need to reassess our strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The country's progress is lagging behind that of its neighbors.

The New York Times

One major reason for the meager progress is lagging support in Europe for military spending.

The New York Times

But today there are too many areas where progress is lagging, and it's holding our economy back.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

A24 NEW YORK/REGION B1-10 OfficialSpeeded Up Schedule For Downtown Rebuilding State and city officials, reacting to criticism that progress was lagging, advanced the timetable for rebuilding the trade center site, setting July 1 as the deadline for initial development plans and Sept. 1 for final plans.

The New York Times

The UK is lagging behind progress by similar countries on many indicators for ill-health, research suggests.

BBC

It is dependent on the upcoming Troika report into the state of the Greek economy, which is expected to show that Athens has made some progress towards its bailout targets, but is lagging behind.... DJ FX Trader (@djfxtrader) Greece Aid Decision Could Be Delayed Until November-EU Sources September 12 , 20124.09pm BST The Greek stock market staged another rally today, closing 5.33% higher.

The Guardian - Business

But their progress in addressing economic and environmental vulnerabilities is lagging behind.

The Guardian

And while such attempts at subverting democracy certainly embarrass Salinas, they do not mean that his nation's political reform is lagging behind its economic progress.

Los Angeles Times

And which goal is lagging far behind the others in progress?

Huffington Post

Of the major countries in the region, the Philippines is making insufficient progress to reach the 2015 drinking water target and Indonesia is lagging behind on sanitation.

Unicef

There has been good progress in several areas, but one key segment of the industry is lagging, namely automation.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "progress is lagging" when comparing current advancements against expected or desired levels, and always clarify the area or aspect where progress is insufficient.

Common error

Avoid using "progress is lagging" without specifying what aspect of progress is slow. For example, instead of saying "Progress is lagging," specify "Technological progress is lagging behind societal adaptation."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "progress is lagging" functions as a descriptive statement, typically serving as a comment or judgment on the current status of development. Ludwig AI confirms that it's commonly used to evaluate advancement against expectations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "progress is lagging" is a grammatically sound and neutrally-toned expression used to indicate that development is not meeting expected levels. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's suitable for formal reports and news contexts. While not overly common, it's readily understood and carries a clear, evaluative meaning. When using this phrase, ensure you specify the area where progress is insufficient for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

advancement is slow

Focuses on the pace of advancement rather than a comparison to an expected level.

development is behind schedule

Highlights that the development is not on time.

growth is stagnating

Indicates a cessation or significant slowing of growth.

momentum is stalling

Suggests a loss of forward drive or impetus.

gains are insufficient

Emphasizes the inadequacy of the achieved gains or improvements.

the rate of progress is inadequate

Emphasizes the rate at which progress is happening.

the pace of development is too slow

Highlights the slow speed of development.

improvement is not keeping pace

Emphasizes that improvement isn't fast enough to match expectations or requirements.

the situation is deteriorating

Indicates a decline rather than a lack of progress.

efforts are yielding limited results

Focuses on the effectiveness of efforts rather than the overall progress.

FAQs

How can I use "progress is lagging" in a sentence?

You can use "progress is lagging" to indicate that advancement is slower than expected. For example: "Despite our efforts, "progress is lagging" on the project, and we need to reassess our strategy."

What can I say instead of "progress is lagging"?

You can use alternatives like "advancement is slow", "development is behind schedule", or "growth is stagnating" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "progress is lagging" or "progress is slow"?

"Progress is slow" is a more general statement about the speed of advancement. "Progress is lagging" implies a comparison to an expected level or target, suggesting that the current speed is insufficient to meet goals.

What's the difference between "progress is lagging" and "progress has stalled"?

"Progress is lagging" suggests that advancement is still occurring but at a slower pace than desired, while "progress has stalled" implies that advancement has completely stopped.