was progressing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was progressing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing development or advancement in a situation or process in the past. Example: "The project was progressing well until we encountered unexpected challenges."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His career was progressing.

The New York Times - Sports

Dusk was progressing.

The New Yorker

Mahaney asked how each chapter was progressing.

The New Yorker

Meanwhile, our skiing was progressing nicely.

Independent

"I thought I was progressing pretty well," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

It was clear the brain tumor was progressing.

The Washington Post

Doctors said Hodari had full motor function and was progressing.

The New York Times - Sports

On Tuesday night the Duchess was progressing favourably.

The Guardian

But Whittingham liked how Sunday Silence was progressing.

The New York Times - Sports

The Ministry of Defence said the operation was "progressing well".

Independent

The plan was progressing much faster than I had imagined.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was progressing" to describe an action or process that was actively moving forward or developing at a specific point in the past. Ensure that the context clearly indicates what is making progress.

Common error

Avoid using "was progressing" to describe a state that is already completed. Use "had progressed" instead if the progression concluded before another point in time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was progressing" functions as a verb phrase, specifically the past continuous tense of the verb "progress". It describes an ongoing action or development at a specific time in the past. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

17%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was progressing" is a grammatically sound and commonly used verb phrase that describes an ongoing action or development in the past. As supported by Ludwig, it's used across various contexts, from describing project advancements to personal health improvements. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media sources, with a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. While "was progressing" is versatile, remember to use it correctly to avoid tense errors and to consider alternatives like "was advancing" or "was developing" for subtle shifts in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was advancing

Replaces "progressing" with a synonym that emphasizes forward movement or development.

was developing

Focuses on the gradual unfolding or growth of something, rather than just forward movement.

was improving

Highlights the betterment or enhancement aspect of the process.

was proceeding

Implies a more formal and structured advancement, often according to a plan.

was evolving

Suggests a gradual change and adaptation over time.

was unfolding

Emphasizes the gradual revelation or manifestation of events.

was maturing

Implies a process of reaching full development or completion.

was shaping up

Indicates that something is taking a favorable form or direction.

was gaining traction

Suggests increasing momentum or popularity.

was gathering momentum

Similar to gaining traction but emphasizes an increase in speed or force.

FAQs

How can I use "was progressing" in a sentence?

You can use "was progressing" to describe the continuous development of something in the past. For example, "The project "was progressing" on schedule" or "Her health "was progressing" well after the surgery".

What's the difference between "was progressing" and "had progressed"?

"Was progressing" indicates continuous action in the past, while "had progressed" indicates an action completed before a certain point in the past. For example, "The research "was progressing" slowly" (ongoing) versus "The research "had progressed" significantly before the funding ran out" (completed before a point in time).

What are some alternatives to "was progressing"?

Alternatives include "was advancing", "was developing", "was improving", or "was proceeding", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "is progressing" instead of "was progressing"?

The choice depends on the timeframe. "Is progressing" describes something happening now, while "was progressing" refers to something that happened in the past. For example, "The situation "is progressing" well" (present) versus "The situation "was progressing" well" (past).