monitor progress closely

Meaning

This expression means to watch, track, or check the development of a project or task very carefully and regularly. It is commonly used in professional settings when a project is high-stakes, has a tight deadline, or involves a lot of risk. Using this phrase shows that you are actively keeping an eye on updates to prevent any potential issues.

Examples

• Since this is our first time working with this vendor, we need to monitor progress closely.

  Since this is our first time working with this vendor, we need to monitor progress closely.

• Our team leader will monitor progress closely to ensure we meet the Q3 deadline.

  Our team leader will monitor progress closely to ensure we meet the Q3 deadline.

• We decided to monitor progress closely after the initial phase of the launch ran into several technical issues.

  We decided to monitor progress closely after the initial phase of the launch ran into several technical issues.

• I will monitor progress closely and update the stakeholders if there are any major delays.

  I will monitor progress closely and update the stakeholders if there are any major delays.

• As the project enters its final stage, the management team is monitoring progress closely.

  As the project enters its final stage, the management team is monitoring progress closely.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We need to control progress closely.

  ✓ We need to monitor progress closely.

  Learners often translate 'control' literally from their native languages where it means 'to check' or 'to monitor'. In English, 'control' means to command, dominate, or restrict, whereas 'monitor' is the correct verb for observing and tracking development.

• ✗ She is monitoring closely the progress of the team.

  ✓ She is monitoring the progress of the team closely. / She is closely monitoring the progress of the team.

  Placing the adverb 'closely' directly between the transitive verb 'monitoring' and its direct object 'the progress' splits them unnaturally. Keep the object next to the verb, or place 'closely' before the verb.

Related Expressions

Practice

• With the launch date approaching, the project manager decided to ___ to avoid any last-minute surprises.

  💡 To track development very carefully

  Show answer

  monitor progress closely

• It is important to ___ when onboarding new remote employees during their first month.

  💡 Keep a watchful eye on how things are developing

  Show answer

  monitor progress closely