anxious to improve

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "anxious to improve" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a desire or eagerness to make progress or enhance a skill or situation. Example: "She is anxious to improve her public speaking skills before the upcoming conference."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

"We are certainly anxious to improve our relations and we never mean to give offense," she said.

The New York Times

In the early days, this hero worship reflected a touching display of aspiration on the part of moguls anxious to improve their immigrant audiences, if not themselves.

The New York Times

Although more control over staffing and personnel decisions would certainly be helpful to principals and administration officials anxious to improve  students' performance, some job protections for teachers should remain in place.

The Economist

Life is very different for Dolan these days and he feels a strong sense of guilt about his past and is anxious to improve things for others to make up for his transgressions.

Independent

Three months ago, running for re-election and anxious to improve public confidence in his government's agricultural policy, Prime Minister Tony Blair boldly declared that the country's foot-and-mouth crisis had turned the corner and was "in the home straight".

The New York Times

The audience of "West Bletchley revolutionaries" includes Miss Minns, anxious to improve her mind, a woman knitting a jumper, two others, sitting "like lumps of pudding", and a younger woman, "one of the teachers at the Council School", who is "drinking it all in".

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

He has worked intimately with the actor, and with sufficient delicacy that he has allowed him to improve without being anxious about his mistakes.

The New Yorker

Early screening of anxious patients could enable specific strategies to improve their experience of the perioperative period [ 24].

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

("What can Charlie do to improve his grades?" one anxious parent asked me. "Fewer drugs," I suggested).

The New York Times

The draft measures, seen by the Observer, indicate that the government is anxious to be seen to do more to improve the living standards of the worst off.

The Guardian

Many medical tourists were thought to be anxious not only about finding a way to improve their health, but also about finding solutions beyond those suggested by their doctors, which served to encourage their pursue of international care options.

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "anxious to improve" when you want to convey not just a desire for improvement, but also a sense of eagerness or even slight unease about the need for it. For instance, a company might be "anxious to improve" its customer service after receiving negative feedback.

Common error

Avoid using "anxious to improve" if you only intend to express a general desire for improvement without the element of worry or eagerness. In such cases, phrases like "eager to enhance" or "keen to develop" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "anxious to improve" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a subject, followed by an infinitive phrase expressing purpose. As confirmed by Ludwig, it correctly conveys a feeling of eagerness and a desire for betterment. For example, 'The company is anxious to improve its customer service'.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "anxious to improve" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that effectively communicates a blend of eagerness and concern for betterment. Ludwig confirms its validity and provides numerous real-world examples. Although "anxious" can sometimes imply worry, in this context, it primarily highlights a strong motivation for progress. While widely used in news and media, its presence extends to science and other domains. When using this phrase, consider if the nuance of worry or eagerness aligns with your intended meaning. If not, consider alternatives like "eager to enhance" or "keen to develop" for a more neutral tone. Remember to avoid overusing "anxious" when a simpler expression of desire would suffice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eager to enhance

Replaces "anxious" with "eager" and "improve" with "enhance", indicating a strong desire for improvement.

keen to develop

Substitutes "anxious" with "keen" and "improve" with "develop", suggesting a strong interest in fostering growth.

desirous of enhancing

Replaces "anxious" with "desirous" and "improve" with "enhancing", indicating a strong wish for betterment.

intent on perfecting

Substitutes "anxious" with "intent" and "improve" with "perfecting", emphasizing a focused aim to achieve flawlessness.

determined to refine

Replaces "anxious" with "determined" and "improve" with "refine", implying a resolute effort to enhance quality.

motivated to advance

Substitutes "anxious" with "motivated" and "improve" with "advance", highlighting a driving force to progress.

resolved to ameliorate

Replaces "anxious" with "resolved" and "improve" with "ameliorate", suggesting a firm decision to make things better.

aspiring to excel

Substitutes "anxious" with "aspiring" and "improve" with "excel", emphasizing a desire to surpass expectations.

ambitious to upgrade

Replaces "anxious" with "ambitious" and "improve" with "upgrade", indicating a strong desire to elevate to a higher standard.

seeking to optimize

Replaces "anxious" with "seeking" and "improve" with "optimize", suggesting an active search for the best possible outcome.

FAQs

What does "anxious to improve" mean?

The phrase "anxious to improve" means feeling a strong desire, coupled with some level of eagerness or concern, to make something better or to make progress.

What can I say instead of "anxious to improve"?

You can use alternatives like "eager to enhance", "keen to develop", or "desirous of enhancing" depending on the context.

How can I use "anxious to improve" in a sentence?

Here's an example: "The company is anxious to improve its environmental impact by adopting more sustainable practices."

When is it appropriate to use "anxious to improve" versus "willing to improve"?

Use "anxious to improve" when there's a sense of urgency or concern driving the desire for improvement. "Willing to improve" simply expresses a readiness or openness to making things better without the same level of eagerness or unease.