better the whereabouts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "better the whereabouts" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a preference for knowing someone's location, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "I would feel more at ease if you could better the whereabouts of the missing documents."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Winger is unconvinced and wants some remorse or even better the whereabouts of one of Lupone's accomplices.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The accelerating pace of arrests in Baghdad indicates that the United States is starting to obtain better information about the whereabouts of wanted officials.

The New York Times

The Senate Agriculture Committee has sought input from industry players on policy changes, including keeping customers better updated on the whereabouts of their money, more regular reporting to authorities and creating an insurance fund to backstop losses in customer accounts.

The New York Times

She's the one whom Darcy felt compelled to dismiss and whom he subsequently bribed against his better judgment in order to learn the whereabouts of the absconding Wickham and Lydia.

Huffington Post

Asked about the propriety of owning or knowing the whereabouts of so many extraordinary Khmer relics, Mr. Latchford said the items were in better hands than if they were somehow returned en masse to Cambodia.

The New York Times - Arts

The whereabouts of Mr. Burt remain unknown.

The New York Times

Mind the whereabouts of the drinks cart.

The New York Times - Travel

The whereabouts of the rest are unknown.

The New York Times

The whereabouts of the others are unclear.

The New York Times

The whereabouts of the commander are unknown.

The New York Times

The whereabouts of the doves are unknown.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, replace the phrase "better the whereabouts" with more common and understandable alternatives such as "clarify the location" or "improve knowledge of the location".

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "better the whereabouts" in formal or professional writing. It's often perceived as awkward and unclear, potentially confusing your audience. Opt for more straightforward expressions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "better the whereabouts" functions as a verb phrase aiming to express improvement of knowledge regarding a location. However, its non-standard usage makes it less effective. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrasing is awkward and unclear.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "better the whereabouts" is a non-standard and grammatically questionable construction. While the intended meaning revolves around improving one's knowledge or understanding of a location, its awkward phrasing and infrequent use undermine its effectiveness. As Ludwig AI points out, clarity is compromised, making it unsuitable for formal or professional communication. More appropriate alternatives include phrases like "clarify the location" or "improve knowledge of the location". While the single example identified by Ludwig comes from a News & Media source, its overall rarity suggests avoiding this phrase in favor of clearer, more conventional expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

improve knowledge of the location

Replaces the more awkward phrasing with a clearer and more direct statement.

enhance knowledge of someone's location

Directly states the act of increasing information about where someone is.

gain a clearer understanding of the location

Highlights enhancing comprehension of the location, rather than just 'bettering' it.

discover the precise whereabouts

Focuses on finding out the exact location with more clarity.

ascertain the location more accurately

Focuses on precise determination of location rather than improvement in general.

clarify the location

Stresses making the location more understandable, shifting from 'bettering' to 'clarifying'.

find out the exact location

Emphasizes discovering the specific location instead of just improving its knowledge.

determine the precise location

Highlights the act of defining the location with precision, not just improving its knowledge.

refine the tracking of someone's location

Suggests a more active and ongoing process of improving location information.

get a better handle on the location

Uses a more informal expression to indicate improving one's understanding of the location.

FAQs

Is "better the whereabouts" grammatically correct?

The phrase "better the whereabouts" is considered grammatically questionable. It's not a standard or widely accepted phrase in English, so it's best to use alternative phrasing for clarity.

What does "better the whereabouts" mean?

The intended meaning of "better the whereabouts" is to improve one's understanding or knowledge of a location. However, the phrasing is awkward and not commonly used.

Which is a better phrase, "better the whereabouts" or "improve knowledge of the location"?

"Improve knowledge of the location" is better because it is clearer and more direct. "Better the whereabouts" is not a standard English phrase and may confuse readers.

What can I say instead of "better the whereabouts"?

You can use alternatives like "improve knowledge of the location", "clarify the location", or "determine the precise location" depending on the context.