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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

MitStanfordHarvardAustralian Nationa UniversityNanyangOxford

can't improve

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Can't improve on that.

News & Media

The New York Times

You can't improve that".

News & Media

The New York Times

I can't improve on that.

News & Media

The Guardian

Sometimes you can't improve on simple basics.

You can't improve on your own version.

If I don't know about it, then I can't improve".

News & Media

Independent

Those who can't teach and can't improve should be fired".

News & Media

The Economist

"That doesn't mean we can't improve," she added.

News & Media

The New York Times

I can't improve on my standing with these guys.

News & Media

The New York Times

"That doesn't mean we can't improve," Mr. Giuliani said.

News & Media

The New York Times

"To say you can't improve scores is to say you can't improve students, and I disagree with that," he told The New York Times in 1979.

News & Media

The New York Times
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "can't improve" followed by the preposition "on" when you are comparing a current achievement to a previous classic or standard, such as "you "can't improve" on a classic".

Common error

Writers sometimes mistakenly use "can't improve" when they actually mean something cannot be changed by external forces. Ensure you distinguish between an internal lack of progress, like "the economy "can't improve"", and a state of perfection where something "cannot be improved" further.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

88%

Authority and reliability

4.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can't improve" functions as a negated modal verb phrase, combining the contraction "can't" with the base form of the verb "improve". According to Ludwig AI, it acts as a statement of impossibility or limitation regarding progress or enhancement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Social Media

1%

Academic

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "can't improve" is a highly versatile and very common phrase used to denote either the zenith of quality or a stagnation in progress. Data from Ludwig suggests that it is most frequently encountered in high-authority news outlets, where it serves to emphasize that a certain standard "cannot be bettered". Whether you are describing a perfect recipe or a stalled economy, ensure you use "on" when comparing to a previous benchmark. While the contraction is acceptable in most professional writing, consider using the full form in strictly formal academic contexts.

FAQs

How do I use "can't improve" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a peak state, such as "sometimes you "can't improve on a classic"", or a limitation, like "if we don't measure results, we "can't improve the process"".

What can I say instead of "can't improve"?

Depending on your context, you might use "cannot be surpassed" for excellence or "is unable to better" for a formal report.

Which is correct: "can't improve" or "can't be improved"?

Both are correct but have different meanings. Use "can't improve" when the subject itself is failing to get better, while ""cannot be improved"" implies that the object has already reached perfection.

What is the difference between "can't improve" and "cannot improve"?

There is no grammatical difference; "cannot improve" is simply the more formal, non-contracted version of the same phrase.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: