without achieving anything

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "without achieving anything" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a situation where no progress or success has been made. Example: "He worked tirelessly on the project, but ended up without achieving anything." Alternative expressions include "without making any progress," "without any results," and "without accomplishing anything."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

That year a Cape army under Gen. Charles Gordon was sent in, but it retired without achieving anything.

Encyclopedia Britannica

EVEN by the standards of American bureaucracy, an organisation that operated for 13 years without achieving anything is impressive.

The Economist

The fifth floor is for those who have become famous without achieving anything worthwhile (X Factor contestants).

The Guardian - Books

Superstar after aging superstar passed through the organization's revolving doors without achieving anything as simple as a playoff berth.

The New York Times

Without achieving anything like the goal of a drug-free America, our policies have empowered a lethal black market, complete with international armies of latter-day Al Capones.

The New York Times

The movement attracted criticism of social media "slacktivism" — a convenient way for people to act like they're making a difference without achieving anything at all.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

It was Ferguson, after all, who left him with the squad that looks completely incapable of achieving anything approaching competence without their Dutch one-man band.

Vice

"Achieving anything like her would be amazing.

The New York Times

"Without the support I have received I would have gone through life believing I was incapable of achieving anything," she says.

The Guardian

He was summoned by Peter the Great to St . Petersburgin 1713 but died the following year without having achieved anything of note there.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Many opponents have charged that the members of the clan have betrayed their political heritage and are trading on their name without having achieved anything worthwhile in recent years.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place the phrase at the end of a clause to provide a rhetorical punch when describing failure or inefficiency.

Common error

Ensure you use the gerund form "achieving" after the preposition "without". A common mistake is to say "without achieve anything", which is grammatically incorrect. Prepositions like "without" must be followed by a noun or a gerund.

Linguistic Context

"without achieving anything" functions as an adverbial phrase of result (or lack thereof). It consists of the preposition "without", the gerund "achieving" and the indefinite pronoun "anything". According to Ludwig AI, it typically modifies the preceding verb phrase to specify that the action was unproductive.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Science

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "without achieving anything" is a robust and grammatically correct English phrase used to highlight the absence of results. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a "Common" and high-quality expression across diverse domains. It is particularly effective in journalistic and professional writing for its ability to concisely summarize the failure of an initiative or the stagnation of a process. Whether describing a failed military campaign or a lackluster sports season, this phrase provides a clear, impactful way to communicate a lack of progress. Writers should ensure they use the gerund "achieving" to maintain grammatical accuracy and consider synonyms like "without making any headway" if they wish to vary their vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without making any progress

Emphasizes the lack of forward movement or development.

without accomplishing anything

Focuses on the lack of a finished result or specific achievement.

without any success

Directly highlights the failure of the attempt.

with no results

A more literal and factual way to state that nothing was gained.

to no avail

An idiomatic expression meaning without success despite efforts.

with nothing to show for it

A more informal, idiomatic way to describe zero outcome.

without making any headway

Specifically refers to the lack of progress in a difficult situation.

fruitlessly

An adverbial form that describes the action as being unproductive.

empty-handed

Idiomatic, often used when returning from a mission or negotiation with nothing.

without reaching a conclusion

Suggests a process that ended without a final decision or result.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "without achieving anything"?

You can use alternatives like "without accomplishing anything", "to no avail" or "with no results" depending on the context.

Is "without achieving anything" formal enough for business?

Yes, it is perfectly appropriate for professional and formal contexts. It is frequently used in business reports and news articles to describe failed initiatives.

What is the difference between "without achieving anything" and "without having achieved anything"?

The phrase "without achieving anything" usually describes an action as it happens or a general state, while "without having achieved anything" uses the perfect gerund to emphasize a state resulting from a completed period of time.

How do I use "without achieving anything" in a sentence?

It usually follows a main clause. For example: "The committee met for three hours "without achieving anything" concrete."