be more diligent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be more diligent" is grammatically correct and is commonly used in written English.
It is typically used when giving an instruction or advice to someone to be more careful, thorough, or persistent in their actions or behavior. Example: "In order to excel in your studies, you need to be more diligent in completing your assignments and studying regularly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Instead, they call on bankers to be more diligent.

The New York Times

"We need to be more diligent," he said.

The New York Times

Being subject to lawsuits for their failures would surely encourage these companies to be more diligent.

The New York Times

Members of majority groups also tend to be more diligent around people they view as "different".

The Guardian

They should be more diligent about who they employ and have more safeguards to stop people slipping through the net".

The Guardian

It is not that Ms. Cummings is ineffective, he suggests, but merely that he would be more diligent.

The New York Times

• When anonymity is unavoidable, reporters and editors must be more diligent in describing sources more fully.

The New York Times

Yes, reporters could perhaps be more diligent in about pointing out where the candidates stray from legitimate license to outright falsehood and demagoguery.

The New Yorker

"You have to be more diligent and watchful in the winery that things don't head south in fruit wine fermentation," Mr. Jones said.

The New York Times

As a result of more stringent conditions since the housing bust, bankers are required to be more diligent in approving loan applications.

The New York Times

Coaching patients to be more diligent about taking their medicine and recognizing when their condition is deteriorating helps people stay out of the hospital, he said.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When advising someone to "be more diligent", specify the area where increased diligence is needed to provide clear direction and actionable advice.

Common error

Avoid vaguely telling someone to "be more diligent" without providing specific context or areas for improvement. This can be unhelpful and leave the person unsure of where to focus their efforts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be more diligent" primarily functions as an imperative, used to give advice or instructions. Ludwig examples show its common usage in urging individuals or entities to increase their thoroughness and attention to detail in various tasks.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be more diligent" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, primarily functioning as an imperative to advise or instruct someone to increase their thoroughness and attentiveness. Its communicative purpose is to encourage improved performance across various contexts, ranging from News & Media to Scientific publications. While the register is generally neutral, specific recommendations include specifying the area where increased diligence is required and avoiding vagueness. Semantically related alternatives include ""exercise greater care"" and ""pay closer attention"", offering nuanced ways to express the need for increased care and effort.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be more thorough

Directly emphasizes the completeness and exhaustiveness required.

exercise greater care

Focuses on the cautious aspect of diligence, emphasizing carefulness.

apply more rigor

Emphasizes the strictness and thoroughness required.

pay closer attention

Highlights the need for increased focus and attentiveness.

be more conscientious

Stresses the moral aspect of being thorough and responsible.

increase vigilance

Highlights the need for being more watchful and alert.

show more dedication

Focuses on commitment and effort in pursuing a goal.

make a greater effort

Emphasizes the exertion of energy and resources.

step up your game

An idiomatic phrase suggesting an improvement in performance.

try harder

A simple and direct way to suggest increased effort.

FAQs

How can I use "be more diligent" in a sentence?

You can use "be more diligent" to advise someone to be more careful or thorough in their work or actions. For example, "You need to "be more diligent" in checking your work before submitting it."

What are some alternatives to saying "be more diligent"?

Instead of "be more diligent", you could say "pay closer attention", "exercise greater care", or "be more thorough" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "become more diligent" instead of "be more diligent"?

Yes, "become more diligent" is also correct. While "be more diligent" is a direct instruction or suggestion, "become more diligent" implies a process of improvement over time.

What's the difference between "be more diligent" and "be more careful"?

While both advise improvement, "be more diligent" suggests being more thorough and attentive to detail, whereas "be more careful" focuses specifically on avoiding mistakes or harm. Diligence includes carefulness, but also implies thoroughness and persistence.