great up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "great up" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It appears to be a combination of words that does not convey a clear meaning or context. Example: "The project is going to be a great up in terms of productivity." (This sentence is awkward and unclear.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

Sharing stuff online is great, up to a point.

The Guardian

"This is my last hurrah here as artistic director, so why not get a great female musician, a jazz great, up there on the marquee?" Ms. Jamison said.

The New York Times - Arts

The Miata's stowed hardtop fits in the same space as the softtop, it looks great up or down and incurs a weight penalty of only 80 pounds — and those pounds are at the back of the car, improving weight distribution.

The New York Times

You could put this down to its author's gender, of course; most critics seem only to be willing to shove the adjective "great" up against the reassuring name of a man.

The Guardian - Books

As the years go by, speech reverts to childhood levels of disfluency, with more pauses, more errors, more repeated words, but even the peak years are not great: up to 8percentt of the average person's word output consists of meaningless fillers and placeholders like um, uh and er.

The New York Times - Books

Plus Mario looks great up close.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

"There's no doubt she's a great up-and-coming player," Sharapova said after the match.

The New York Times

That's a great up-and-under which he chased and caught himself.

The Guardian - Sport

"The guys breaking par are playing great, hitting phenomenal shots and great up-and-downs".

The New York Times - Sports

Side by side, Vladimir and Estragon (the great up-and-comer J Kyle Manzay) stood in a field of dried weeds, as the air off the Mississippi River wafted through ruined trees and ruined houses in the night.

The New Yorker

"I had a couple of great up-and-downs for par from the rough, and I'm very happy," said Pak, carrying a bag of ice for her shoulder during her post-round interviews.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "great up" with more precise and grammatically sound alternatives like "excellent" or "wonderful" followed by appropriate prepositions depending on the context (e.g., "great at", "great in").

Common error

Avoid using "great up" as a universal substitute for more specific expressions of praise or achievement. Tailor your language to accurately reflect the context, for instance, "great improvement" or "significant boost" is preferable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "great up" functions primarily as a descriptor, aiming to express a positive attribute or condition. However, Ludwig AI points out that the phrase is generally not considered correct English. Although frequently used in various contexts as per examples found by Ludwig, it's often better replaced by more precise language.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

33%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "great up" appears with considerable frequency, Ludwig AI indicates that it is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Its primary function is to express a positive assessment, often in contexts related to news and media or scientific observations. Given its informal register and questionable grammatical status, it's advisable to use more precise alternatives such as "excellent", "wonderful", or "significant advancement" depending on the specific context to ensure clarity and appropriateness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excellent going

Emphasizes positive progress or performance, similar to "great up" in contexts of achievement.

terrific progress

Highlights significant advancement, akin to "great up" when referring to improvements.

remarkable ascent

Focuses on upward movement or improvement, suitable when "great up" implies rising success.

superb rise

Indicates a high-quality increase or advancement, similar to expressing a positive upward trend.

wonderful climb

Suggests a pleasant and successful journey upwards, comparable to "great up" in contexts of positive development.

fantastic advancement

Highlights significant and positive development, akin to the sense of improvement in "great up".

outstanding elevation

Implies a notable increase in status or quality, similar to the positive connotation of "great up".

splendid improvement

Focuses on the positive change or betterment, similar to "great up" when indicating progress.

exceptional upswing

Highlights a positive turn or increase, relating to the upward aspect of "great up".

brilliant upturn

Suggests a bright and positive change in direction, akin to the sense of improvement in "great up".

FAQs

How can I rephrase "great up" to sound more natural?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "excellent", "wonderful", or "fantastic" followed by a relevant preposition or noun.

Is "great up" grammatically correct in formal writing?

Generally, "great up" is not considered grammatically correct in formal writing. It's advisable to use more precise and standard English phrases such as "great improvement" or "significant progress".

What's a more professional way to express something is "great up"?

For a professional tone, consider using phrases like "remarkable ascension", "significant advancement", or "outstanding elevation", which convey a similar meaning with greater clarity and formality.

When can I use "great up" without sounding awkward?

While "great up" might be acceptable in very informal conversations, it is best to avoid it in professional or academic settings. Alternatives like "wonderful climb" or "terrific progress" are generally safer and more effective.