better than better

USAGE SUMMARY

'better than better' is not correct or usable in written English.
Instead, one could say something like, "I'm doing even better than before" or "My skills have improved even further."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Everything was going better than better, the unemployed and the homeless were queueing up to thank him and the project was on time and on budget.

The Guardian

Two audio signals were presented sequentially and five possible subjective responses were allowed: "The audio quality of the second recording is much better than, better than, the same as, worse than, or much worse than, the first recording".

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But also, however fictive-fantastic it might seem, they are here because they played better than better-paid and better-known and demonstrably-better-in-every-way-but-one teams.

Vice

However, binocular VF loss is not easily calculated in clinic and did not predict subjective or objective measures of disability better than better-eye VF loss in one study [ 31].

BMC Ophthalmology

We can do better – much better – than Hinkley.

The Guardian - Business

Better, much better than the pre-season odds suggest.

The Guardian - Sport

For consumer goods, from computers to cars, "better" means "better than lithium-ion".

The Economist

"I hope the times will be even better and better than the World Championships.

Independent

"Iowa State is much better, way better than they looked today," Auriemma said.

The New York Times - Sports

A better era, better than his own, he hopes, awaits his children.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, we played against a better team, better than us no doubt".

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "better than better" in formal writing. Instead, opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives such as "significantly better" or "much improved."

Common error

Do not use redundant comparative structures like "better than better". This phrasing is generally considered ungrammatical and can confuse your message. Using stronger synonyms emphasizes your intended meaning more effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "better than better" functions as a comparative, attempting to express a higher degree of improvement. However, Ludwig AI indicates that it is not grammatically correct or commonly used in standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "better than better" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use in formal writing. As Ludwig AI points out, it is not standard English. While the intent may be to emphasize a significant improvement, clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives, such as "significantly better" or "much improved", should be preferred. Usage is rare, with limited examples found in news and media sources. Therefore, avoiding this phrase will lead to clearer and more effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

even better than before

Explicitly compares the current state to a previous, already positive one.

improved even further

Indicates continued progress beyond an initial improvement.

significantly better

Emphasizes a considerable degree of improvement.

vastly improved

Emphasizes a very large degree of positive change.

much improved

Highlights a noticeable positive change.

markedly superior

Indicates a clear advantage in quality or performance.

considerably enhanced

Focuses on the substantial advancement made.

noticeably advanced

Suggests an easily observable level of progress.

substantially upgraded

Implies a significant enhancement in features or capabilities.

doing exceptionally well

Highlights outstanding performance.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "better than better" to sound more natural?

Instead of "better than better", consider using phrases like "significantly better", "much improved", or "even better than before" depending on the context.

Is "better than better" grammatically correct?

No, "better than better" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It is a redundant construction that does not effectively convey a clear meaning.

What's a more emphatic way to say something is improved?

To emphasize improvement, you could say something is "vastly improved", "markedly superior", or "considerably enhanced".

When might someone use "better than better"?

While not grammatically correct, someone might use "better than better" informally for emphasis or humor, though it's generally best to avoid it in formal contexts.