scant progress

USAGE SUMMARY

'scant progress' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when there is little or no progress on something. Example: Despite our best efforts, we have made scant progress on this project.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Since then, however, there's been scant progress.

The Guardian

And SAA has made scant progress with a turnaround plan.

The Economist

Over the past few years, scant progress has been made.

The Washington Post

But it has made scant progress to date.

The New York Times

Hampered by ideologues and cowards in Congress, President Obama has made scant progress in healing it.

The New York Times

But the odds of a mini-deal with scant progress on farm trade are minimal.

The Economist

As the tax debate has consumed Congress, there has been scant progress toward a spending deal.

The Washington Post

But despite the ceaseless exhortations, there has been scant progress in rectifying these matters.

The New York Times

After years of scant progress, the rekindled public fascination could finally crack the case.

The Guardian - Film

Both sides reported scant progress at the end of the day.

The New York Times

Since then, the Republican-controlled House and the Democratic-controlled Senate have made scant progress.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "scant progress" with a reason or explanation for the limited advancement to provide context.

Common error

Avoid using "scant progress" when there has been considerable advancement. "Scant" indicates a noticeable lack, so ensure it accurately reflects the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scant progress" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as the object of a verb (e.g., 'made scant progress') or as a subject complement. It describes the state of advancement or development of a particular project or endeavor. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "scant progress" is a noun phrase that effectively communicates a lack of significant advancement, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is grammatically correct and commonly used across various domains, particularly in news and media, formal business settings, and scientific publications. The phrase serves to express concern or disappointment and is more suited for neutral to professional contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that it accurately reflects the degree of limited advancement to avoid misrepresentation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minimal progress

Indicates a slight degree of advancement but still very limited.

little progress

Expresses a small amount of advancement or development.

limited advancement

Emphasizes the restricted nature of the progress made.

poor advancement

Highlights the insufficient nature of the advancement.

inadequate development

Focuses on the deficiency of the development achieved.

negligible improvement

Suggests the improvement is so small it's practically insignificant.

meager headway

Indicates very little forward movement or progress.

slight gains

Highlights that only small gains have been achieved.

glacial pace

Emphasizes the extremely slow speed of the progress.

stalled development

Focuses on the halting or cessation of developmental progress.

FAQs

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

You can use "scant progress" to describe situations where there has been very little or almost no advancement despite efforts. For example, "Despite numerous meetings, we've made "scant progress" on the budget negotiations."

What are some alternatives to saying "scant progress"?

Alternatives include "minimal progress", "little progress", or "limited advancement". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "scant progress" or "no progress"?

"Scant progress" implies that some minimal advancement has been made, while "no progress" indicates a complete lack of advancement. Use the phrase that accurately reflects the actual situation.

What's the difference between "scant progress" and "slow progress"?

"Scant progress" emphasizes the lack of substantial advancement, while "slow progress" indicates that advancement is happening, but at a reduced speed. Use "slow progress" when there's movement forward but not very fast.