better often

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "better often" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is unclear when it could be used, as it lacks context and proper grammatical structure. Example: "I believe that we should strive for better often" does not make sense.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

And in this case, better often means bigger.

The New York Times

Although many people (including some who should know better) often confuse the two.

The Guardian - Tech

IT has transformed the lives of billions for the better, often in ways that standard income measures do not capture.

The Economist

Critics of traditional Medicare – even those who should know better – often accuse it of being "fee for service".

The New York Times

Those nomads who drove their herds south toward Nigeria, where rains were better, often suffered few losses.

The New York Times

When he is on the court, his teammates get better, often a lot better, and his opponents get worse — often a lot worse.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

When Jones turns to published sources, he has an unfortunate penchant for attacking his intellectual betters, often without understanding them.

Forbes

HBO won us over for a simpler reason: it was the first to realize that a TV series would be better -- often much better -- if you didn't force a writing team to crank out 22 episodes in six months.

The New York Times - Magazine

Sunday's cast was generally much better, and often marvelous.

The New York Times - Arts

As usual, Palestinians fare no better, and often do worse.

The New York Times

2. For low-income people, better eating often starts with WIC and SNAP.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you intend to convey frequency with improvement, use grammatically sound alternatives like "frequently improve" or "improve regularly". This ensures clarity and avoids potential misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid placing "better" directly before "often" when describing frequency. It's more conventional to structure the sentence with adverbs of frequency modifying the verb directly (e.g., "often improve").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "better often" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or adjective, intending to express frequency of improvement. However, as noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically questionable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

12%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "better often" appears in various sources, it's grammatically unconventional and can be unclear. Ludwig AI confirms this with its analysis. It aims to express frequent improvement, but clearer alternatives like "frequently improve" or "improve regularly" are recommended for enhanced clarity and adherence to standard English. Although commonly used in news and media, it is less appropriate for formal academic writing. Using these alternatives ensures your message is easily understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

frequently improve

Reverses the order and uses a verb to emphasize regular enhancement.

improve regularly

Emphasizes making improvements on a consistent schedule.

often enhance

Uses a synonym for "improve" to highlight frequent enhancements.

regularly refine

Suggests a process of continuous refinement over time.

consistently get better

Highlights the ongoing nature of improvement.

frequently excel

Focuses on achieving excellence repeatedly.

regularly surpass

Implies consistently exceeding expectations or standards.

steadily advance

Emphasizes a gradual but consistent progression forward.

routinely ameliorate

Uses a formal term for "improve", suggesting a standard practice.

continually optimize

Suggests an ongoing process of making something as effective as possible.

FAQs

What does "better often" mean?

The phrase "better often" is grammatically unusual and not commonly used in standard English. It can be interpreted as meaning "frequently better" or "improving frequently", but it's best to use clearer alternatives.

What can I say instead of "better often"?

You can use alternatives like "frequently improve", "improve regularly", or "often enhance" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "better often"?

While "better often" appears in some sources, it's not grammatically standard. It's generally better to use a clearer and more conventional phrasing such as "more often than not" or "frequently better".

How can I use the idea of "better often" in a sentence?

Instead of "better often", try rephrasing. For example, instead of saying "They are better often", say "They "frequently excel"" or "They improve regularly" to convey the intended meaning more clearly.