Overhaul comes with its own small set of verb frames, one for each stage of the work -- and using the wrong one doesn't just sound slightly off, it can genuinely misreport whether the work has started, is underway, or is already finished.
Not started
"The reporting structure needs a major overhaul before leadership can rely on it."
"Needs an overhaul" and "is due for an overhaul" both signal the work hasn't begun -- they're a diagnosis, not a progress report.
In progress
"The support model is undergoing an overhaul as the company expands into multiple regions."
"Is undergoing an overhaul" is the dedicated in-progress frame. It tells a reader the work has already started and isn't finished yet -- distinct from both the not-started and completed frames.
Completed
"The support model was overhauled after the company expanded into multiple regions" / "The team overhauled the support model."
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Start learning for free →Both the passive ("was overhauled") and the active verb with a named actor ("the team overhauled") report a finished state. Either works; the choice between them is about whether naming the actor matters in that sentence, not about status.
Why having the right frame matters
Having a precise frame for each status lets a speaker report exactly where an overhaul stands without switching vocabulary or leaving the audience unsure whether the work has actually begun. This matters most in status updates, retrospectives, and any writing that tracks a project over time, where the reader's next question is almost always "so where are we now?"
Don't mix frames across stages
Mixing frames across stages can misreport whether the work has started or finished -- "is due for an overhaul" describing work that's already finished, for instance, tells the reader the project hasn't begun even though the word "overhaul" itself is used correctly. The frame, not just the word, carries the status information.
Practice scenarios
Practice matching the right frame to the right status in situations like:
- reporting that a system hasn't been touched yet but urgently needs to be
- reporting mid-project status in a way that clearly signals "in progress"
- reporting a completed overhaul in either the passive or the active form
Useful practice phrases:
- "[System] needs/is due for an overhaul." (not started)
- "[System] is undergoing an overhaul." (in progress)
- "[System] was overhauled" / "[Team] overhauled [system]." (completed)
The word stays the same across every stage.
The frame around it is what actually tells the reader where things stand.
Lyra Practice helps advanced non-native English professionals learn the nuance of high-value workplace expressions and practice using them in realistic scenarios, so their English sounds natural, precise, and senior at work. Try Lyra Practice.