a limited improvement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a limited improvement" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe a situation where progress is measured or incremental. For example, "The increase in sales was only a limited improvement compared to the previous quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

The results of enzyme addition and the co-digestion with cow manure showed a limited improvement of methane production for the banana stem, while the hydrolysis rates were improved.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

We additionally find a limited improvement in quality of care under EBP.

Harvard University

The addition of natural pozzolana presented only a limited improvement of concrete's sulfate resistance.

Cement and Concrete Composites

Annealing at temperatures inside the recovery region caused a limited improvement in the formability of UFG steel due to the relief of internal energy without considerable grain coarsening.

Materials Science and Engineering: A

It laid off workers in Perrysburg partly because it decided not to produce its Series 5 generation of panels, which represented a limited improvement over its existing Series 4 panels.

The New York Times

In the case of non-doped tantalum nitride, only a limited improvement of reactivity with enhanced surface area was observed which demonstrates the limited impact of microstructure upon reactivity.

Catalysis Today

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

The compressive and flexural strengths of CNT/cement composites were improved by 17.3 and 16.3%, respectively, through the addition of 0.1 wt.% CNTs dispersed by PVP, while the addition of CNTs dispersed by TNWDIS led to a very limited improvement in strength.

Composite Structures

While m is large enough, a very limited improvement of the MSE may be achieved by further increasing m, but SNR now becomes a dominant factor and increasing SNR may benefit the MSE performance.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Since there is a very limited improvement on decoding throughput and computational complexity by using the PBFAS-LQF compared to the PUFAS-LQF at a high SNR, the PUFAS-LQF is favored due to its better BER performance.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

However, the accruing input resulted in a rather limited improvement in the target measures.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Due to its higher standard lower level discriminator, a more limited improvement was found for the Gemini TF scanner when changing the energy window from 440 665 keV to 440 560 keV [ 31].

European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a limited improvement", consider quantifying the improvement to provide a clearer picture. For example, "a limited improvement of 5%".

Common error

Avoid using "a limited improvement" when the actual progress is significant. Choose stronger terms like "substantial progress" or "major breakthrough" to accurately reflect the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a limited improvement" functions as a noun phrase, often used as the object of a verb (e.g., 'showed', 'resulted in', 'observed') or as a complement, describing the extent or degree of positive change. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a valid and usable phrase in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a limited improvement" is a grammatically sound and readily usable expression suitable for describing situations where progress is made, but the change is modest. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, emphasizing its utility in contexts where overstating advancements would be inaccurate. While the phrase is versatile, it’s crucial to use it judiciously, quantifying the improvement whenever possible to enhance clarity and avoid ambiguity.

The phrase sees frequent use in scientific research, news reporting, and academic discourse. When using "a limited improvement", consider that alternative expressions like "a marginal advance" or "a slight enhancement" might offer more precise nuances, depending on the intended meaning. In essence, grasp the context, specify the gains, and ensure honesty in depicting the level of progress.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a marginal advance

Emphasizes the small degree of progress made.

a slight enhancement

Focuses on the small degree to which something has been improved.

a modest gain

Highlights the small amount of benefit achieved.

a restricted advancement

Indicates that the progress is somehow constrained or not fully realized.

a negligible betterment

Underscores that the improvement is so small as to be almost insignificant.

an incremental upgrade

Suggests a step-by-step improvement process with small individual changes.

a tempered progression

Implies the advance is restrained or controlled in some way.

a contained amelioration

Highlights that the improvement is limited in scope or impact.

a partial refinement

Focuses on the incomplete nature of the improvement, suggesting further work is needed.

a shallow upturn

Conveys a slight and not deeply impactful improvement.

FAQs

How can I use "a limited improvement" in a sentence?

You can use "a limited improvement" to describe situations where there's some progress, but it's not substantial. For example, "The new policy resulted in "a limited improvement" in employee morale".

What's the difference between "a limited improvement" and "a significant improvement"?

"A limited improvement" indicates a small degree of progress, while "a significant improvement" suggests a substantial and noticeable change.

What can I say instead of "a limited improvement"?

Alternatives include "a marginal advance", "a slight enhancement", or "a modest gain", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "a limited improvement" in formal writing?

Yes, "a limited improvement" is suitable for formal writing. However, consider providing specific details to quantify the improvement for better clarity. For example, instead of stating there's "a limited improvement", specify "a limited improvement of 10% in efficiency".