Moving forward is a common phrase used in workplace communication, planning, and everyday conversation to signal progress, next steps, or a shift in focus.
If you want fresher, more precise language for reports, emails, presentations, or creative writing, this article offers 30 alternative phrases that capture the same intent—each with a clear, user-friendly explanation, real-world context, and a short example to show the best use.
Another or Professional Way to Says “moving forward”
- Going forward
- From now on
- Henceforth
- Moving ahead
- Proceeding
- In the future
- Looking ahead
- Onward
- Onwards
- From this point forward
- Hereafter
- As we move on
- In the days ahead
- Toward the future
- Next steps
- Forward-looking
- Pushing ahead
- Pressing on
- Advancing
- Taking the next step
- Forge ahead
- Carry on
- Move on
- Make progress
- Heading into the future
- Transitioning
- Stepping forward
- Moving onwards
- Toward progress
- Continuing forward
1. Going forward
When you say “going forward”, you signal what will happen from the present moment into the future. This phrase is widely used in business to introduce changes to policy, process, or expectations. It’s conversational yet professional, making it useful for emails, meeting summaries, and project updates. Using going forward sets a clear temporal boundary: it’s not about what happened before, but about how actions will be handled from now on.
Example — “Going forward, we’ll route all client requests through the new ticketing system.”
Best use — Use in internal memos, meeting summaries, and process-change announcements to set expectations clearly.
2. From now on
“From now on” is direct and decisive; it marks a change that starts immediately and continues thereafter. It’s slightly less formal than some corporate phrasing but excellent when you need clarity. Writers use it to create a clean break from past behavior and to highlight new rules, habits, or standards. It works well in training materials, personal commitments, and policy notices where the audience must understand that past exceptions no longer apply. Combine with specific actions to avoid ambiguity (e.g., “From now on, please submit timesheets by Friday 5 PM.”).
Example — “From now on, please copy the project manager on all vendor emails.”
Best use — Use for rule changes, personal commitments, and clear behavioral shifts.
3. Henceforth
“Henceforth” is formal and slightly legalistic, making it a good fit for contracts, official statements, and formal writing. It signals permanence and authority, implying that what follows is binding or long-term. While less common in casual speech, it adds gravitas to policy documents, company charters, and ceremonial communications. Because it’s more traditional, balance its tone with clear, contemporary language so readers don’t feel alienated. Synonyms like hereafter or from this point onward provide softer alternatives when needed.
Example — “Henceforth, all financial reports must be submitted by the last business day of the month.”
Best use — Use in formal policies, legal language, and highly official notices.
4. Moving ahead
“Moving ahead” emphasizes progress and motion toward a goal. It’s optimistic and forward-focused, often used to transition from planning to execution. This phrase works well in status updates, strategic documents, and team meetings to indicate that the group is shifting into the next phase of work. It communicates confidence without sounding abrupt, and it pairs nicely with roadmap or timeline details to show what will happen next and who’s responsible.
Example — “Moving ahead, the design team will begin user testing next week.”
Best use — Use in action-oriented updates and project phase transitions.
5. Proceeding
“Proceeding” is concise and neutral, suitable for formal and semi-formal contexts. It’s commonly used to indicate that a process will continue or that an action will be taken next. In technical documentation or step-by-step guides, “proceeding” helps keep instructions clear and sequential. It’s less emotive than phrases that suggest enthusiasm—choose it when you want objective, procedural clarity.
Example — “We are proceeding with the deployment after successful testing.”
Best use — Use in instructions, technical updates, and process documentation
6. In the future
“In the future” is general and versatile; it places emphasis on events that will occur later without specifying immediate action. Use it when describing long-term plans, forecasts, or trends. It’s helpful in strategy documents and thought pieces where you want to discuss direction without implying immediate changes.
Example — “In the future, we plan to expand into two additional markets.”
Best use — Use for strategic planning, forecasts, and high-level roadmaps.
7. Looking ahead
“Looking ahead” is reflective and strategic—great for leadership communications and planning sessions. It suggests thoughtfulness and anticipation rather than abrupt change. Use it to introduce a forward-looking perspective in reports, presentations, or blog posts, and pair it with goals, predictions, and preparedness strategies. It’s reader-friendly and positions the author as thoughtful and intentional about next steps.
Example — “Looking ahead, we’ll invest more in customer education to reduce churn.”
Best use — Use in strategic reviews, leadership messages, and forecasts.
8. Onward
“Onward” is brisk and motivational; it emphasizes continued motion and resilience. It’s often used in concise, inspirational writing or to punctuate the transition to action after reflection or review. Because it’s short and punchy, it works well in headings, calls-to-action, and closing remarks in speeches or emails. Use it when you want a tone that’s forward-driving and energetic.
Example — “We’ve addressed the backlog—onward to the next sprint.”
Best use — Use in motivational contexts, sprint retrospectives, and short updates.
9. Onwards
“Onwards” is similar to “onward” but slightly more idiomatic in British English. It conveys continuous progress and is well-suited to narratives or conversational corporate updates. Writers choose “onwards” when they want a casual yet purposeful tone, especially in blog posts, newsletters, or team memos that blend personality with direction.
Example — “With the prototype approved, onwards to user trials.”
Best use — Use in conversational updates and informal team communications.
10. From this point forward
This phrase is explicit and formal enough for important announcements. It creates a distinct boundary—what’s declared takes effect immediately and is intended to continue. Use it when past actions are being replaced or when you need to make a firm, clearly documented change. It’s excellent for official memos, HR communications, and project governance documents where precision matters.
Example — “From this point forward, all budget requests need CFO approval.”
Best use — Use for governance changes, policy shifts, and formal announcements.
11. Hereafter
“Hereafter” is literary and slightly formal; it denotes a continuing state from now on. It can be effective in polished writing or formal addresses where a graceful tone is desired. Because it’s less common in everyday speech, use it sparingly to avoid sounding archaic. It’s fitting for mission statements, reflective essays, and formal corporate communications that benefit from an elevated tone.
Example — “Hereafter, the company will prioritize sustainability in vendor selection.”
Best use — Use in mission statements, formal prose, and reflective corporate language.
12. As we move on
“As we move on” is collaborative and conversational—ideal for meetings, presentations, and narrative transitions. It invites listeners or readers to join in the next phase, making it inclusive. Use it when summarizing what was discussed and then guiding the group to the next agenda item or action. It’s a gentle, team-oriented way to signal progress.
Example — “As we move on to stakeholder feedback, please keep the timeline in mind.”
Best use — Use in meeting transitions, presentations, and collaborative documents.
13. In the days ahead
“In the days ahead” signals a near-term future focus and gently sets expectations about upcoming events. It’s useful for weekly updates, newsletters, and short-term planning documents. The phrase provides a temporal frame that’s approachable and reader-friendly, helping audiences anticipate what’s coming without suggesting long-term commitment.
Example — “In the days ahead, we’ll share the pilot findings with the team.”
Best use — Use in short-term status updates and weekly communications.
14. Toward the future
“Toward the future” is slightly poetic and aspirational—great for branding, vision pieces, and strategic storytelling. It stresses directionality and intent, often paired with goals like innovation or growth. Use it when you want to inspire stakeholders about long-term possibilities while still implying a trajectory that the organization will follow.
Example — “Our research investments are directed toward the future of AI-driven services.”
Best use — Use in vision statements, marketing copy, and forward-looking reports.
15. Next steps
“Next steps” is action-oriented and practical—perfect for checklists, project plans, and meeting minutes. Use it when you want readers to leave with a clear sense of responsibilities, deadlines, and priorities.
Example — “Next steps: finalize design, schedule user testing, and update documentation.”
Best use — Use in project plans, post-meeting summaries, and task lists.
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16. Forward-looking
“Forward-looking” is analytical and suitable for reports, forecasts, and investor communications. It conveys that a plan or statement considers future conditions and risk, often used in financial disclosures and strategic documents. Use it when you want to underscore planning, anticipation, and preparedness—especially in contexts where foresight adds credibility.
Example — “This forward-looking strategy will guide our product roadmap for 2026.”
Best use — Use in forecasts, investor briefs, and strategic analyses.
17. Pushing ahead
“Pushing ahead” carries energy and determination—it’s about overcoming obstacles and keeping momentum. Use it in contexts where progress requires effort or persistence, such as recovery plans, growth initiatives, or transformation work. It signals grit and commitment while emphasizing action rather than mere planning.
Example — “Despite delays, we’re pushing ahead to meet the launch deadline.”
Best use — Use in turnaround stories, transformation updates, and motivational contexts.
18. Pressing on
“Pressing on” implies steady effort in the face of challenges. It’s narrative and resilient, making it a good fit for retrospective reports, leadership messages, and team morale communications. Use it to acknowledge difficulties while emphasizing continued effort.
Example — “After the setback, the team is pressing on with renewed focus.”
Best use — Use in morale-boosting communications and perseverance narratives.
19. Advancing
“Advancing” is formal and progress-centered—it highlights measurable forward motion. Common in research, engineering, and policy contexts, it implies improvement or progress toward a defined objective. Use it when you want to convey tangible progress or technological/organizational development.
Example — “We’re advancing toward a more automated onboarding process.”
Best use — Use in technical updates, R&D summaries, and progress reports.
20. Taking the next step
This phrase is procedural and empathetic—ideal for coaching, customer journeys, or guides where action is incremental. It communicates both readiness and a clear call to act. Use it to break complex goals into approachable actions and to encourage audiences to commit to specific tasks.
Example — “Taking the next step, we’ll reach out to beta customers for feedback.”
Best use — Use in user journeys, coaching guides, and incremental plans.
21. Forge ahead
“Forge ahead” is bold and slightly forceful; it conveys deliberate, sometimes brave action in pursuit of goals. Use this phrase in leadership communications, startup narratives, or strategic pivots where decisiveness and courage are highlighted. It gives a sense of intentionality and momentum, suitable when stakes are high.
Example — “With funding secured, we’ll forge ahead on international expansion.”
Best use — Use in bold strategy announcements and startup storytelling.
22. Carry on
“Carry on” is colloquial and reassuring; it encourages continuity and steadiness. It’s useful in supportive team messages or customer communications where you want to promote calm progress. While informal, it’s warm and human—perfect when you want to balance competence with empathy.
Example — “Carry on with your current tasks while we finalize the shift plan.”
Best use — Use in team check-ins and customer-facing reassurance updates.
23. Move on
“Move on” often implies leaving something behind—an idea, phase, or issue—and focusing on what comes next. It’s useful in conflict resolution, retrospectives, and career advice. Use it carefully to avoid sounding dismissive; pair it with constructive direction so the audience feels guided rather than shrugged off.
Example — “Let’s move on from this issue and concentrate on the feature rollout.”
Best use — Use in retrospectives, conflict resolution, and career guidance.
24. Make progress
“Make progress” is measurable and optimistic, emphasizing incremental improvement rather than one-time change. It’s great for performance reviews, goal-setting documents, and weekly updates. Use it to focus stakeholders on metrics, milestones, and continuous improvement.
Example — “We made progress on the backlog by reducing open tickets by 30%.”
Best use — Use in performance updates, KPIs, and continuous improvement reports.
25. Heading into the future
This phrase is expansive and visionary. It’s ideal for keynote speeches, annual reports, and brand positioning. It evokes a journey and encourages stakeholders to imagine the long-term trajectory. Use it when you want to inspire and align your audience around a distant horizon rather than immediate tasks.
Example — “Heading into the future, our priority will be ethical AI development.”
Best use — Use in vision pieces and inspirational brand narratives.
26. Transitioning
“Transitioning” focuses on change management—the process of moving from one state to another. It’s useful in organizational change communications, product migrations, and phased rollouts. Use it to emphasize process, timelines, and stakeholder support during change windows.
Example — “We are transitioning to the new CRM over the next quarter.”
Best use — Use in migration plans, change management, and phased rollouts.
27. Stepping forward
“Stepping forward” is gentle and intentional; it’s excellent for inclusive communications, public relations, and community updates. It suggests small, deliberate actions that accumulate into meaningful change. Use it to invite participation and to present change as approachable rather than overwhelming.
Example — “By stepping forward together, we’ll implement community-led initiatives next month.”
Best use — Use in community outreach, HR initiatives, and inclusive campaigns
28. Moving onwards
“Moving onwards” mixes momentum with continuity and is suitable for narrative updates and progress reports. It emphasizes a steady path rather than dramatic shifts. Use it when updates are incremental and continuity is important for stakeholder confidence.
Example — “With approvals secured, we’re moving onwards with product development.”
Best use — Use in steady-progress updates and continuity-focused communications.
29. Toward progress
“Toward progress” highlights intentional effort geared at improvement. It’s useful for mission-driven statements, CSR communications, and change agendas where the emphasis is social good or measurable improvement. Use it to connect actions with impact and to frame initiatives in terms of outcomes.
Example — “Our volunteers are working toward progress in local education programs.”
Best use — Use in CSR reports, mission updates, and impact narratives.
30. Continuing forward
“Continuing forward” balances continuity and direction; it’s neutral, reassuring, and suitable for formal or friendly tones. Use it in closing remarks, project summaries, or transition notes to indicate a steady path ahead that builds on existing momentum. It reassures stakeholders that progress remains intentional and consistent.
Example — “Continuing forward, we’ll maintain weekly check-ins to ensure alignment.”
Best use — Use in project closures, ongoing programs, and cadence-setting communications.
Conclusion
Choosing the right synonym for “moving forward” depends on tone, audience, and intent. Use formal terms like henceforth or from this point forward for policies and legal contexts; prefer inclusive phrases like stepping forward or as we move on for team and community communications; and pick action-oriented language such as next steps, pushing ahead, or forge ahead when you need momentum.
FAQs
Q: Which phrase is best for a formal company policy?
A: Use henceforth, from this point forward, or hereafter—they convey authority and permanence suitable for official documents.
Q: What’s the most conversational alternative?
A: Going forward, moving ahead, or carry on are natural and reader-friendly for emails and team messages.
Q: Which option works best for SEO and LLMs?
A: Use clear, explicit phrases like next steps, in the future, and forward-looking—they match common search intent and help LLMs understand the temporal and action-oriented context.
Q: Can I mix these phrases in one document?
A: Yes—varying phrasing improves readability and prevents repetition. Keep tone consistent and choose synonyms that match the section’s formality.
Q: How can I choose the best alternative to “moving forward” for different audiences?
A: Start by considering your audience and intent. For executives or legal contexts, choose formal options like from this point forward or henceforth. For teams and collaborators, friendly phrases such as going forward or as we move on work well. For marketing or thought leadership, aspirational language like looking ahead or toward the future creates engagement. Matching tone to audience ensures clarity, trust, and stronger impact.
