#84 Reviewing a Contract｜English Business Phrases
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#65 Checking Project Progress｜English Business Phrases
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To ensure that a project moves forward smoothly, it is essential to regularly check its progress and identify any issues or delays.
When checking progress in English, it is particularly important to adopt a cooperative attitude rather than sounding as if you are placing blame or applying pressure.
In this article, I explain practical English expressions that can be used when checking the status of a project.
Contents
Dialogue
I just wanted to check in on the project. How are things coming along?
Overall, things are moving forward, but we’re slightly behind schedule on the testing phase.
What’s causing the delay?
We ran into some technical issues, and the team needed extra time to resolve them.
Thanks for explaining. Do you think we’ll be back on track by the end of the week?
Yes, that should be possible if everything goes as planned.
1. Starting a Progress Check
When checking progress, how you start the conversation is crucial. Asking directly, such as “Why is this late?”, can sound accusatory and put unnecessary pressure on the other person.
A more effective expression is:
Example
- I just wanted to check in on the project.
The phrase “just wanted to” conveys the nuance that this is a light or casual check, helping to reduce psychological pressure on the listener.
In addition, “check in” means “to check progress,” “to ask about the current situation,” or “to follow up regularly,” and is a commonly used phrase in business settings.
A frequently used follow-up question is:
Example
- How are things coming along?
This is a standard expression for checking progress. It is not overly formal and works well in regular meetings or one-on-one discussions.
2. Explaining the Current Status
When reporting progress, it is helpful to start by explaining the overall situation so that the listener can quickly grasp the context.
Example
- Things are moving forward.
This expression indicates that there are no major issues and that the project is not stalled.
If there are challenges, you can add more detail, such as:
Example
- We’re slightly behind schedule.
The word “slightly” acts as a softener, suggesting that the delay is not severe.
3. Identifying Issues or Causes
If there is a delay, it is necessary to ask about the reason. However, depending on how the question is phrased, it may sound like you are assigning blame.
To avoid this, it is better to focus on the cause itself:
Example
- What’s causing the delay?
This expression asks about the reason for the delay rather than who is responsible, making it suitable for fact-based discussions.
Response
- We ran into some technical issues.
The phrase “run into” means “to encounter an unexpected problem” and is commonly used when explaining difficulties at work.
4. Asking About the Outlook for Improvement
At the end of a progress check, it is important to confirm when the delay might be resolved.
Example
- Do you think we’ll be back on track by the end of the week?
“Be back on track” means “to recover from a delay” or “to return to the original plan.”
Response
- If everything goes as planned.
This expression leaves some room for uncertainty while still presenting a positive outlook.
Summary
Key English Phrases
- I just wanted to check in on the project.
→ A polite way to start checking project progress. - How are things coming along?
→ A phrase used to ask about overall progress. - What’s causing the delay?
→ A neutral question that focuses on the cause of a problem. - Be back on track
→ An expression used to confirm whether a project can return to its planned schedule.
¥1,100 （2026/01/26 11:05時点 | Amazon調べ）
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¥1,650 （2026/01/29 13:21時点 | Amazon調べ）
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