progress towards

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "progress towards" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are trying to describe a situation in which a person or group is moving forward in a certain direction. For example, "The company has made significant progress towards achieving its goals this year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Progress towards visa liberalisation continues.

The Economist

Progress towards a fairer society.

The Guardian - Opinion

"It is important to progress towards democracy".

The Guardian

But progress towards that is slow.

The Guardian

Recent progress towards understanding the synaptic ribbon.

Yale University

And the Vickers report represents real progress towards fundamental reform.

The Guardian - Opinion

Strengthening equity now would accelerate progress towards the MDGs.

The Guardian

Progress towards global abolition may not be straightforward, Lehrfreund concedes.

The Guardian

However, the UN praises Lesotho for progress towards gender equality.

The Guardian

How should progress towards lofty promises be judged?

The Guardian

It does not offer progress towards a consoling vision.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "progress towards", ensure that the goal or objective is clearly defined to provide context for the advancement being made. For example, "Significant progress towards a sustainable future" is more impactful than simply stating "significant progress".

Common error

Avoid using "progress towards" for insignificant or minimal advancements. Reserve it for situations where there is demonstrable and meaningful forward movement. Do not say that the process has achieved "progress towards perfection", if it still far from it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "progress towards" functions as a prepositional phrase that describes the direction of advancement or improvement. It connects an action or effort with a specific goal. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

35%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "progress towards" is a commonly used prepositional phrase that indicates advancement in the direction of a specific goal. As Ludwig AI confirmed, it is grammatically correct and widely applicable across various contexts, including news, science, and academia. When using this phrase, ensure the goal is clearly defined and avoid overstating minor advancements. Alternatives such as "advancement toward" or "steps toward" can be used to add variety to your writing. Remember that "progress towards" indicates positive movement in a direction, distinguishing it from "progress against", which implies advancement in opposition to something.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

advancement toward

Replaces "progress" with "advancement", emphasizing the forward movement.

movement toward

Substitutes "progress" with "movement", focusing on the act of moving in a direction.

steps toward

Replaces "progress" with "steps", highlighting individual actions contributing to the overall goal.

making headway toward

Adds the verb "making headway" to emphasize the act of making progress.

on track for

Focuses on adhering to a planned course of action to reach a destination.

working toward

Emphasizes the effort and work being put into achieving a goal.

endeavoring towards

Substitutes "progress" with "endeavoring", highlighting attempt or effort.

approaching

Focuses on decreasing distance, rather than on effort itself.

getting closer to

Informal language, focusing on the decrease of distance to destination.

moving closer to

Focuses on the physical movement towards a destination.

FAQs

How can I use "progress towards" in a sentence?

The phrase "progress towards" is used to indicate movement or advancement in the direction of a specific goal. For example, "The team is making significant "progress towards" completing the project on time."

What are some alternatives to saying "progress towards"?

You can use alternatives like "advancement toward", "movement toward", or "steps toward" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it better to use "progress towards" or "progress to"?

"Progress towards" is generally preferred when indicating movement in the direction of a goal or objective. "Progress to" is less common and might be used in different contexts, such as referring to a stage or level in a process.

What's the difference between "progress towards" and "progress against"?

"Progress towards" indicates advancement in the direction of a goal, while "progress against" implies advancement in opposition to something. For example, "progress towards a cure" versus "progress against the disease".