Making progress

[mrb]

I usually translate this as "progresando," but for variety, is it ok to say "está haciendo progreso," or does that sound too much like a translation from English? I noticed a lot of hits for it in google, but they were mostly in the same context that I'm using--education in the U.S.--so most of them are translations of English into Spanish.

[aleCcowaN]

I'm totally used to hear (and use) "haciendo progresos" (always a plural), and "hacer adelantos". In fact Real Academia's dictionary defines "progresar" as "avanzar, mejorar, hacer adelantos en determinada materia".

In RAE's corpus there are many quotation, even going back to 1648 ("...y en la qual en otra suerte jamás se pudieran hacer progresos considerables."). So you may use it safely though I found just one instance outside Spain and Argentina.

[mrb]

ok, thanks a lot! I´ve made a note of it.

[wrholt]

Originally Posted by aleCcowaN

I'm totally used to hearing (and using) "haciendo progresos"...

"to be used to X-ing" is different than "used to X".

"I used to hear 'haciendo progresos' " = "oía/solía oir 'haciendo progresos' "

"I'm used to hearing 'haciendo progresos' " = "estoy acostumbrado a oír 'haciendo progresos' "

[aleCcowaN]

Originally Posted by wrholt

"to be used to X-ing" is different than "used to X".

"I used to hear 'haciendo progresos' " = "oía/solía oir 'haciendo progresos' "

"I'm used to hearing 'haciendo progresos' " = "estoy acostumbrado a oír 'haciendo progresos' "

Thanks!

[mrb]

Yes, Alec, WR Holt is right. Sorry for not saying so myself. I was paying more attention to your answer than your English.