better better

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "better better" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in a context where one is emphasizing the need for improvement or a comparison, but it is not commonly accepted. Example: "To achieve success, we need to find a way to make our processes better better."

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

Better, better, better.

The New York Times - Sports

"Better, better," she said.

The New York Times

Mora said, "You play more and more and more, you're going to get better, better, better".

The New York Times - Sports

"It has held together better, better than we expected.

The Guardian

I mean the reproduction of the White Queen's rising cry of "Better, better, better!" as the climax of the most successful of all Beatles singles, "Hey, Jude".

The New Yorker

Some customers want to buy stuff that is better: better tasting, better quality and better ethics".

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

"No, I'm not interested in designing a better, better-looking pair of crutches," he said.

The New York Times

QB (Does diabetes usually make your quality of life worse or better? a lot worse a fair bit worse a bit worse neither worse nor better better) is scored -3, -2, -1, 0, 1.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

QUESTION FROM ELIZABETH BEE: Do you consider yourself to be a Never-Better, Better-Never, or Ever-Waser?

The New Yorker

"Still too soft.... Better.... Better...

The New York Times - Science

Gripe, a company that describes itself as a "better Better Business Bureau for the Twitter age," is devoted to spreading word of a problem quickly.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider alternative phrases like "much better" or "significantly improved" for more formal writing to maintain clarity and professionalism.

Common error

Avoid relying heavily on "better better" for emphasis in formal writing. While it can highlight improvement, overuse diminishes its impact and can make your writing seem less sophisticated. Instead, incorporate varied vocabulary and sentence structures to convey emphasis effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "better better" functions primarily as an adjective phrase used to express a degree of improvement or superiority. It often serves to emphasize that something is not just good, but notably improved, as evidenced by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "better better" functions as an adjective phrase used for emphasis, primarily in neutral to informal contexts such as news and media. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig suggests that its repetitive nature may not be suitable for formal writing, where alternatives like "much better" or "significantly improved" are preferred. Though Ludwig AI marks the phrase's grammatical status as acceptable, it's crucial to consider the specific writing context when choosing to use "better better", ensuring that it effectively conveys the intended message without sounding repetitive or awkward.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

much better

A more common and grammatically standard way to express a higher degree of betterment.

considerably better

Expresses a noticeable degree of improvement or advantage.

significantly better

Adds emphasis on the degree of improvement.

improved greatly

Focuses on the act of improving to a significant extent.

markedly improved

Focuses on the result of the improvement rather than a continuous state.

substantially enhanced

Highlights the degree to which something has been made better.

distinctly improved

Highlights that the improvement is easily noticeable.

noticeably enhanced

Similar to 'distinctly improved', emphasizing that the improvement is clear.

considerably superior

Emphasizes a higher quality or position in comparison to something else.

vastly superior

Implies a very large difference in quality or position.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use "better better"?

The phrase "better better" is generally appropriate in informal contexts where emphasis is desired. However, formal writing usually benefits from alternatives like "much better" or "significantly improved".

Are there more formal alternatives to "better better"?

Yes, more formal alternatives include "substantially enhanced", "markedly improved", or "considerably better". These options provide a similar meaning with a more polished tone.

Is "better better" grammatically correct?

While not strictly incorrect, "better better" deviates from standard grammatical conventions. It is often used for emphasis in speech or informal writing, but it's not universally accepted in formal contexts.

How can I emphasize improvement without using "better better"?

You can emphasize improvement by using adverbs like "significantly", "considerably", or "vastly" before "better". For example, "significantly better" or "considerably better".