stepwise progression

USAGE SUMMARY

"stepwise progression" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a process that progresses gradually, with each step leading to the next one. For example: "The teacher gave instructions for the project in a stepwise progression, starting with the easiest task and progressing to the most complex."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It emphasizes the stepwise progression of the data, starting with small uncontrolled studies and progressing to larger-scale controlled studies.

Diabetes Care

Both involved stepwise progression from less to more potent medications.

The New York Times

Stepwise progression of CRC disease in the orthotopic transplant model.

Nature

But the belief in an orderly, stepwise progression — sponge to ctenophore to bilaterian — is "complete rubbish," he said.

The New Yorker

Kemeny, M. E. & Schedlowski, M. Understanding the interaction between psychosocial stress and immune-related diseases: a stepwise progression.

Nature

The vistas unfurled in a logical, stepwise progression, with water bodies, promontories and mountains stretching into the distance.

Princeton University

The stepwise progression leads to a single escapement action for the second model, and finally to the full double escapement action for the third.

Journal of Cultural Heritage

Further understanding of the biological behavior and molecular genetic alterations in the stepwise progression of PanINs is necessary toward the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) interventions.

Cancer Letters

The first thing you hear is a soft, descending octave in the first violins, the simplest of musical ideas, and a stepwise progression up the first four steps of the A major scale – along with a little chromatic agitation - over some serenely, almost ecclesiastically sonorous polyphony in the lower strings.

The Guardian - Music

Morphological steps in the evolution of these precursor lesions have been elucidated at a molecular level, and the adenoma carcinoma sequence, as this has become known, is one of the classical examples of stepwise progression of cancer.

Pathobiology of Human Disease A Dynamic Encyclopedia of Disease Mechanisms

Tam and Weinberg also recently proposed that epigenetic changes are involved in the stepwise progression of EMT [119], but they do not describe the changes necessary at different times to produce metastatic cancers of different grades.

Clinical and Translational Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "stepwise progression", ensure the steps are clearly defined and logically connected. This helps to illustrate a clear path of development or change.

Common error

Avoid using "stepwise progression" when describing a process that is not truly gradual or incremental. If the changes are sudden or drastic, a different phrase may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stepwise progression" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often used as a subject or object within a sentence. It describes a process or development that occurs in distinct stages or steps, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples in scientific and academic literature.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

80%

Academia

10%

News & Media

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "stepwise progression" is a common and grammatically correct phrase that describes a gradual process involving distinct steps. As shown by Ludwig, it is frequently used in scientific and academic writing to explain complex developments in a structured manner. While alternatives like "gradual advancement" or "incremental development" exist, "stepwise progression" specifically highlights the phased nature of the change. When using the phrase, ensure the steps are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity and accurately portray the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gradual advancement

Focuses on the gradual nature of the progress.

incremental development

Emphasizes the small, incremental changes that contribute to overall development.

progressive stages

Highlights the stages involved in the progression.

sequential advancement

Stresses the order or sequence of the advancement.

phased approach

Implies a structured, planned progression through phases.

stage-by-stage development

Clearly indicates a development process that occurs in distinct stages.

step-by-step increase

Highlights the individual steps leading to an increase.

orderly unfolding

Suggests a systematic and organized development process.

systematic advancement

Emphasizes the methodical and structured nature of the progression.

evolutionary sequence

Implies a natural and gradual development similar to biological evolution.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "stepwise progression" in a sentence?

Use "stepwise progression" to describe processes that unfold gradually, with each step building upon the previous one. For instance, "The project followed a "stepwise progression" from planning to implementation".

What are some alternatives to "stepwise progression"?

Consider using alternatives such as "gradual advancement", "incremental development", or "progressive stages" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "stepwise progression" the same as "gradual process"?

While both terms describe gradual change, "stepwise progression" emphasizes distinct steps or stages within that process, whereas "gradual process" refers to a more continuous and less segmented change.

In what contexts is "stepwise progression" most appropriate?

"Stepwise progression" is well-suited for describing developments in science, medicine, and project management where clear, sequential steps are involved. It's also fitting for legal descriptions or any process involving clearly defined series of events.