small progress

USAGE SUMMARY

'small progress' is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe incremental progress that has been made in a given situation or task. For example, "We have made small progress on the project, but we still have a long way to go."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

That would be small progress but progress all the same.

The Guardian - Sport

Even small progress, Tinderbox reports, is often achingly slow.

Columbia University

For unions, 2007 will go down as another year of small progress but much unfulfilled promise.

The Guardian - Opinion

Recycling: small progress, and a long way to go The expo also highlighted remaining challenges.

The Guardian

What we seem to have lost is that overt quota system -- small progress to be sure.

The New York Times

And that small progress, he said, was beginning to be eroded by bitterness in the last month.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

In the interim, small-scale progress is occurring on the city's west side, where public improvements have attracted private developers.

The New York Times

And there is real scope for some small-scale progress in the marginal meetings between officials.

Vice

A smaller PROGRESS substudy also showed that active treatment stopped or delayed the progression of cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMH) in patients with stroke (Dufouil et al. 2005).

Core Evidence

Beneath this image, a large progress bar shows you how much time is left for each exercise; below that is a smaller progress bar for the entire workout.

The New York Times - Tech

Remember to be flexible; remain patient; smile; stay positive; and praise even the smallest progress.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "small progress" with a qualifying statement to provide context, such as "small progress, but significant implications" or "small progress, given the circumstances".

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the significance of "small progress". Misrepresenting minor advancements as major breakthroughs can undermine credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "small progress" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It denotes the degree or extent of advancement made in a particular situation. Ludwig confirms its standard grammatical function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "small progress" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase that describes incremental advancements across a variety of contexts. As shown by Ludwig, it is commonly found in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. Related phrases include "modest advancement" and "slight improvement", offering similar connotations. It's crucial to use "small progress" to set realistic expectations, avoid overstating impact, and qualify the phrase with context. Overall, this analysis highlights the versatile and nuanced nature of this common phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

modest advancement

Emphasizes the limited scale of the advancement.

slight improvement

Focuses on the marginal positive change.

limited gains

Highlights the restricted nature of the progress made.

minor breakthrough

Suggests a small but significant step forward.

marginal development

Indicates minimal growth or evolution.

gradual advancement

Implies slow and steady, but limited, progress.

incremental improvement

Highlights the step-by-step nature of the progress.

limited success

Focuses on the constrained positive outcome.

baby steps

Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate very small progress.

token progress

Emphasizes the symbolic or superficial nature of the progress.

FAQs

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

You can use "small progress" to describe incremental advancements, as in, "Despite the challenges, we're making "small progress" on the project".

What can I say instead of "small progress"?

You can use alternatives like "modest advancement", "slight improvement", or "limited gains depending on the context.

Which is correct, "small progress" or "little progress"?

Both ""small progress"" and "little progress" are correct and interchangeable. The choice depends on personal preference.

What's the difference between "small progress" and "significant progress"?

"Small progress" indicates minor advancements, while "significant progress" implies substantial and noteworthy advancements. The choice depends on the magnitude of the advancement.