be better use

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be better use" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "be of better use"? You can use the corrected phrase when discussing the effectiveness or utility of something in a particular context. Example: "This tool can be of better use in improving our workflow efficiency."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

There needs to be better use of the forces, they need to be moving to where they are needed, as opposed to setting up camp.

The Guardian

"A short period of work shadowing would be better use of these students' time as, without legal knowledge, I'd question what they could meaningfully learn or contribute during a vacation scheme," he argues.

The Guardian

"As a result there would be better use of the existing capacity at our London airports, safety would be enhanced and passengers will not have to panic every time it snows.

BBC

While the Tesla Model X was used in the demo rides Wednesday night, Musk said he believes smaller electric vehicles like the Model 3, or the yet to be seen Model Y, would be better use cases.

TechCrunch

Annie, who is also an actress, is upset that she arrived too late to audition for a role, although Adrianna says that she would be better use backstage.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"A lot of people have been contacting us about burning it, and we say there have to be better uses".

The New York Times

That water might be better used elsewhere.

The Economist

"Our resources can be better used to help persecuted Syrians.

Independent

But latterly the money that could be better used elsewhere was being spent maintaining the lakes.

The Guardian

I wonder if the effort we are putting into it could be better used someplace else".

The New York Times

The government's vast property portfolio could be better used, but an intelligent approach is needed.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When suggesting an alternative use for something, ensure you use the correct grammatical structure. Instead of saying something could "be better use", say it could "be of better use" or "be better used".

Common error

A common mistake is omitting the preposition "of" after "be" when suggesting improved utility. Remember to say "be of better use", or rephrase to use a passive construction: "be better used".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be better use" functions as part of a predicate, attempting to express a potential improvement in the utility of something. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. It requires correction to function properly.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "be better use" aims to suggest improved utilization, it is grammatically incorrect. As noted by Ludwig AI, the correct forms are "be of better use" or "be better used". It appears infrequently, primarily in news and media contexts. To ensure clarity and correctness, it's advisable to use the corrected forms or alternative phrases like "be more useful" or "serve a better purpose".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be of better use

Introduces the preposition 'of' to correct the grammar, clarifying the relationship between 'better' and 'use'.

be more useful

Replaces "better use" with a simpler, grammatically sound adjective phrase conveying the same meaning.

serve a better purpose

Substitutes "use" with "purpose", offering a slightly different but related concept of intention or function.

be better employed

Focuses on the act of utilizing something effectively, replacing "use" with a verb emphasizing action.

be more effectively utilized

Emphasizes the efficiency of using something, altering both the adjective and noun for a more formal tone.

have a higher utility

Uses the noun "utility" to denote usefulness, shifting the phrase to a more technical or economic context.

be more advantageous

Highlights the benefits of using something in a particular way, replacing "better use" with an adjective focused on advantages.

be a better option

Presents a scenario where something is preferable, framing it as a choice between alternatives.

be a wiser investment

Introduces the concept of investment, suggesting that resources are better allocated elsewhere.

be more strategically applied

Focuses on the strategic aspect of resource allocation, suggesting a deliberate and planned approach.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say something "be better use"?

The grammatically correct way to express this idea is to say something "be of better use" or "be better used". For example, "This tool could be of better use in streamlining the process."

Is "be better use" grammatically correct?

No, "be better use" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "be of better use" or "be better used". Ludwig AI also highlights this grammatical issue.

What can I say instead of "be better use"?

You can use alternatives like "be more useful", "serve a better purpose", or "be better employed" depending on the context.

How can I use "be of better use" in a sentence?

Use "be of better use" to suggest that something could be utilized more effectively. For example: "These resources could be of better use in supporting education initiatives."