It works improving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "It works improving" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an attempt to convey that something is effective when it is improved, but the structure is awkward and unclear. Example: "It works improving the process to enhance efficiency."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Consider that even without dramatic change, a good business is always progressing incrementally, improving the way that it works, improving the delivery of services, improving the types of products it sells, etc.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

If it works, improve it, if it doesn't, trash it and stop losing another night of sleep.

Huffington Post

If we had sent that money at any other time, and put it to work improving the health-care systems in West Africa, it would no doubt have prevented the worst effects of this epidemic and saved many lives.

The New Yorker

Once again, the food industry has gazed upon nature and found it wanting -- and gotten to work improving it.

The New York Times - Magazine

And while this is certainly a very good first step -- leaving 50 million people without insurance is unconscionable -- we quickly need to get to work improving it.

Huffington Post

Kimberly-Clark is 15 months into a restructuring plan that includes cutting 6,000 jobs as it works to improve its diaper and health care businesses.

The New York Times

It works to improve the lives of young South Africans, black and white.

The New York Times

"Today the public has reservations about the fairness of Bush's proposal, but if in the end it works to improve the economy, those reservations will be forgotten.

The New York Times

Instead it works to improve the "sense of wellness" in the highest functioning.

Huffington Post

But when we saw how well it worked to improve efficiency, we went to work to open it up to clients, too.

Huffington Post

It said the decision was not a reaction to any campaign, and that it continually works on improving its menu.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing how something functions or becomes effective, use a grammatically correct structure such as "It works by improving..." or "It is effective in improving...". This ensures clarity and avoids misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using the structure "It works improving..." as it is grammatically incorrect. Ensure that the verb "work" is followed by a preposition (e.g., "by", "through") or an infinitive ("to improve") to properly connect it with the action of improving.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it works improving" attempts to describe a cause-and-effect relationship, where the act of improving something is intended to explain how it functions or becomes effective. However, as flagged by Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it works improving" is grammatically incorrect and rarely used in standard English. As Ludwig AI indicates, this construction is awkward and unclear. To express the intended meaning, it's better to use phrases like "it works by improving", "it is effective in improving", or "it functions better when improved". These alternatives provide clarity and grammatical correctness. While some examples exist across various sources, it's best to avoid "it works improving" in formal or professional writing. Stick to established grammatical structures to ensure your message is conveyed effectively and accurately.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

It works by improving

Changes the structure to use "by" + gerund, indicating the means by which something works.

It is effective in improving

Replaces "works" with "is effective" and uses the preposition "in" before the gerund.

It functions better when improved

Emphasizes the enhanced functionality resulting from improvement.

Improving it makes it work

Inverts the sentence to highlight that the improvement is the cause for it to work.

It works to improve

Uses "to improve" as an infinitive of purpose, indicating that working is directed towards improvement.

It improves its function

Focuses on the outcome of the improvement on its function, using a simpler structure.

It operates with improvements

Describes the operational state including ongoing improvements

It benefits from improving

Highlights the advantages it gets through improvements

Improvements make it work

Stresses that the changes made will cause it to function

It is improving its functionality

Highlights the change in the capacity of the item to function

FAQs

How can I correctly use the idea of "it works" and "improving" in a sentence?

Use structures like "It works "by improving"", "It is effective in improving", or "It works to improve". These constructions are grammatically sound and clearly convey the intended meaning.

What are some alternatives to saying "it works improving"?

Consider alternatives such as "It functions better when improved", "Improving it makes it work", or "It improves its function". These options offer clearer and more grammatically correct ways to express the same idea.

Which is correct, "it works improving" or "it works by improving"?

"It works "by improving"" is the correct and grammatically sound option. The phrase "it works improving" is not standard English.

How to emphasize that improvements lead to something working effectively?

You can say "Improvements make it work" to stress that the changes are the reason why something functions properly.