what a progression

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what a progression" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express admiration or surprise at the development or improvement of something over time. Example: "After reviewing the team's performance over the last year, I must say, what a progression we've made in our project outcomes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

What a progression!

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

At their best, the New Pornos are a perfect blend of exuberance and craft, with hook-filled melodies and soaring choruses that can tug at your heartstrings and make you think, "Damn, what an interesting chord progression!" at the same time.

Huffington Post

Even fathers suffer the injustices of the world, and suddenly the boy saw life for what it was — a progression of sad, terrible, dripping moments.

The New York Times

It's also got a tantalising hint of musical progression: AKA … What a Life!, a house music-inspired thump, is built around a piano riff Gallagher has claimed is inspired by Rhythim Is Rhythim's Haçienda classic Strings of Life, though it sounds just as much like the Rolling Stones' We Love You.

The Guardian - Music

To get the most out of it you must give your digital life over to Google and that certainly has some privacy implications – it knows where you are, what you're searching for, can read what's on the screen and collates all that data – but that isn't a new phenomenon and is simply a progression of what Google's been doing for the last couple of years on Android.

The Guardian - Tech

It's a strangely 20th-century notion, and to illustrate I may take a flight back to that century's music, so bear with me or skip forward a couple of paragraphs … What is progression?

The Guardian - Music

The bottom line is that although a "step-by-step approach," "from the safest to the riskiest," is prudent, a good history and clinical judgment are required to ascertain what, exactly, would constitute such a progression for a given patient.

The New York Times

To deal with "the gap," many countries, as well as many of the groups that are unofficial participants in the negotiations, like Oxfam and the World Wildlife Fund, are pushing for what's become known as a "progression clause".

The New Yorker

"When we lost the three wickets it was important that we didn't have what happened in Sydney with a progression of wickets.

Independent

For example, a British study by Wood and de Menezes (1998) that uses latent variable analysis to search for identifiable patterns in the use of 23 high-performance practices, and is able to identify a progression of what it calls high-commitment management (high HCM, medium-low HCM, low-medium HCM, and low HCM), reaches rather sobering conclusions.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

What we see here is a progression from the general to the specific, and from the simple to the complex.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "what a progression" when you want to express admiration or surprise at how something has improved or developed over time. It implies a series of steps or stages that have led to a positive outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "what a progression" when referring to a single, isolated event. This phrase best describes a series of developments rather than a singular occurrence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what a progression" functions as an exclamatory expression. It conveys surprise and admiration about a noticeable sequence of improvements or developments. It often serves to highlight the positive nature of the change observed. Ludwig confirms its proper use.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what a progression" is an exclamatory phrase used to express admiration for a series of improvements or developments. Ludwig confirms its proper usage. While not very common, it's grammatically correct and appears primarily in news and media sources. The phrase conveys appreciation for positive change and highlights a sequence of advancements. Alternatives include "what an advancement" or "what a development". Remember to use it when acknowledging a series of steps or stages leading to a positive outcome, rather than a single, isolated event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

What an advancement

Replaces "progression" with "advancement", focusing on forward movement and improvement.

What a development

Uses "development" instead of "progression", emphasizing the process of growth and evolution.

What an evolution

Substitutes "progression" with "evolution", highlighting gradual change over time.

What a transformation

Emphasizes a significant change in form or appearance.

What a leap forward

Highlights a substantial advancement or breakthrough.

What a remarkable change

Adds emphasis on the noteworthiness of the change.

What a positive trend

Focuses on the upward or beneficial direction of the change.

What a series of steps

Emphasizes sequential stages or advancements.

What a chain of events

Highlights linked or dependent advancements.

What a sequence

Underlines an ordered arrangement of events

FAQs

How can I use "what a progression" in a sentence?

You can use "what a progression" to express admiration or acknowledgment of the development or improvement of something over time. For instance, "Looking back at their early work, what a progression they've made!"

What are some alternatives to "what a progression"?

You can use alternatives like "what an advancement", "what a development", or "what an evolution" depending on the context.

Is "what a progression" formal or informal?

"What a progression" is generally considered neutral in formality and can be used in both professional and casual contexts.

What does "what a progression" imply?

The phrase "what a progression" suggests that there has been a series of steps or stages that have led to a positive outcome or improvement. It expresses surprise or admiration at the extent of the change.