a better good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a better good" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts discussing moral or ethical improvements, but it is generally better to use clearer expressions. Example: "We strive for a better good in our community by promoting sustainable practices."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Baseball deserves a better bad guy — and a better good guy, too.

The New Yorker

Though they are not themselves convinced that injustice is a better good than justice, they argue that in the present state of society injustice pays with the gods as well as with men as long as the semblance of respectability is preserved.

SEP

"It's definitely still moving forward, it's changed the landscape of our politics where everybody is aiming for a better good now," said Kara. "If there's one thing that is going to come out of this moment [that Sanders] has done, it's that he's activated millions of Americans who see local politics as the only politics," observed Reedy.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

He was not only a good coach, but also a better than good man.

The New York Times - Sports

"They pray for a better life, good health, marriage, money, grandchildren," Ms. Ma added.

The New York Times

I think there is a better than good possibility Sam will be back with the Jets".

The New York Times - Sports

How to Have a Better Relationship Good relationships don't happen overnight.

The New York Times

His bad end provides a better than good beginning for a young artist's New York solo career.

The New York Times - Arts

First, the first Windows Phone handsets appear to be a "better than good enough" option for smart phone users.

MIT Technology Review

I need something that's, for lack of a better term, good enough.

TechCrunch

Get a better plan, better grades, good job, good ideas,... Re-program yourself, for good results.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "a better good" with clearer alternatives such as "a greater benefit" or "an improved outcome" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a better good" in formal writing or academic papers, as it may sound awkward or less precise compared to more conventional phrases. Stick to clearer and more widely accepted alternatives.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a better good" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "better" modifies the noun "good". It aims to describe an improvement or enhancement of something already considered positive or beneficial, although Ludwig AI points out that this is not standard English and can be ambiguous.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a better good" is an uncommon expression used to describe an improvement in something already considered positive or beneficial. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI suggests that it is not standard English and can be ambiguous, suggesting alternatives like "a greater benefit" or "an improved outcome". Its usage is relatively rare, predominantly appearing in news, science, and wiki contexts. For clarity and precision, especially in formal writing, consider using more conventional phrases with similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an improved benefit

Focuses on the enhancement of a specific advantage.

a greater good

Emphasizes a more significant or widespread benefit.

an enhanced positive outcome

Specifically refers to making a positive result even better.

a more valuable benefit

Emphasizes the increased worth or importance of the benefit.

a superior advantage

Highlights the higher quality of the advantage.

a strengthened benefit

Focuses on making the advantage more robust or powerful.

a more effective benefit

Stresses the increased effectiveness of the benefit.

an elevated advantage

Indicates raising the advantage to a higher level or status.

a refined advantage

Implies a more polished or sophisticated benefit.

a boosted advantage

Highlights an increase in the advantage.

FAQs

What does "a better good" mean?

The phrase "a better good" generally refers to an improvement in something already considered beneficial or morally positive. It suggests enhancing an existing advantage or positive outcome, but it's not a standard or widely used expression.

What can I say instead of "a better good"?

You can use alternatives like "a greater good", "an improved benefit", or "a superior advantage depending on the context.

Is "a better good" grammatically correct?

While not incorrect, "a better good" is an uncommon phrase. Grammatically, it functions as an adjective ("better") modifying a noun ("good"). However, its unusual combination may lead to confusion, making clearer alternatives preferable.

In what situations might "a better good" be appropriate?

The phrase might be appropriate in contexts where you want to emphasize the enhancement of something already positive. However, due to its potential for ambiguity, it's crucial to ensure the context is clear and the audience understands you're referring to an improvement in something beneficial, not simply 'something good'.