can be improved if needed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can be improved if needed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the potential for enhancement or modification of something, indicating that changes can be made if necessary. Example: "The report is well-structured, but it can be improved if needed based on the feedback from the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The strength and durability of earthen materials can be improved, if needed.

Construction and Building Materials

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Furthermore, these signal properties suggest that the assessment of signals of need can be improved if the signal value is referenced to a chick's vocal spectrum.

BMC Ecology

Marles said the report showed the "system can be improved [and] it needs to be improved".

The Guardian

Further efforts are needed to determine if this method can be improved for quantitative purpose.

Plosone

Automated results are easily edited if needed, and we believe that automated results can be improved using a 3D method.

Biomedical Optics Express

If they don't have confidence, if the public doesn't have confidence, in the oversight mechanisms that we have then clearly we need to ask ourselves how they can be improved.

The Guardian

Finally, if social media data (tweets) do not need to be stored, performance can be improved (as expected).

Journal of Big Data

"If the bill can be improved, then that can happen in the House of Lords," he said.

The Guardian

There needs to be some thought about how this situation can be improved," she said.

The Guardian

"Obviously, anything can be improved.

The New York Times

Every meal can be improved.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "can be improved if needed", ensure the context clearly defines the criteria or conditions under which improvement would be considered necessary. This avoids ambiguity and provides a clear rationale for potential changes.

Common error

Avoid using "can be improved if needed" as a filler phrase without a genuine intention or plan for improvement. This can undermine the credibility of your statement and create a sense of vagueness or indecisiveness. Be ready to explain the type of improvement you have in mind if questioned.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can be improved if needed" functions as a conditional statement, indicating that there is room for enhancement or modification based on certain criteria or circumstances. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

28%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "can be improved if needed" is a versatile phrase used to express the potential for enhancement under specific conditions. Ludwig confirms it is grammatically correct and commonly used across different contexts, including news, science, and general discussions. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to define the conditions for improvement clearly to maintain credibility and avoid vagueness. Alternatives like "can be enhanced when required" provide a more formal tone when necessary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can be enhanced when required

Replaces 'improved' with 'enhanced' and 'if needed' with 'when required', altering the specific vocabulary while retaining the conditional aspect.

can be refined if necessary

Substitutes 'improved' with 'refined' and 'if needed' with 'if necessary', offering a slightly more formal tone.

can be adjusted as required

Replaces 'improved' with 'adjusted' and 'if needed' with 'as required', focusing on the aspect of modification.

can be modified if required

Uses 'modified' instead of 'improved', emphasizing alteration, and 'if required' instead of 'if needed'.

may be enhanced if necessary

Replaces 'can' with 'may' to indicate possibility rather than certainty, and 'needed' with 'necessary' maintaining the conditional meaning.

is open to improvement if required

Reformulates the phrase to highlight openness to change, using 'improvement' instead of 'improved' and 'if required' instead of 'if needed'.

subject to improvement if necessary

Indicates that improvement is contingent on necessity, using 'subject to improvement' in place of 'can be improved if needed'.

can undergo enhancement if there is a need

Expands the conditional clause for emphasis, replacing 'if needed' with 'if there is a need'.

can be further developed if required

Focuses on the developmental aspect of improvement, using 'further developed' in place of 'improved' and 'if required' instead of 'if needed'.

improvement is possible if the situation warrants it

Shifts the focus to the possibility of improvement depending on circumstances, using a more elaborate conditional clause.

FAQs

How can I use "can be improved if needed" in a sentence?

You can use "can be improved if needed" to suggest potential enhancements to something that is already functional or acceptable. For example: "The current design is adequate, but it "can be improved if needed" based on user feedback."

What is a formal alternative to "can be improved if needed"?

A more formal alternative to "can be improved if needed" is "can be enhanced when required". This phrasing is suitable for professional or academic contexts.

Is "can be improved when needed" grammatically correct?

Yes, "can be improved when needed" is grammatically correct. However, ""can be improved if needed"" is more common and idiomatic.

What's the difference between "can be improved if needed" and "needs improvement"?

"Can be improved if needed" suggests that something is currently satisfactory but has potential for enhancement. "Needs improvement" implies that something is currently inadequate and requires immediate attention and change.