improve on something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "improve on something" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing enhancements or advancements made to an existing idea, product, or process. For example, "The team aims to improve on last year's design to make it more user-friendly." Alternative expressions include "enhance something" and "refine something."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

The hydrogen car represents what is sometimes called a "leapfrog" technology: it does not merely improve on something that exists but vaults over all possible improvements to achieve something totally new.

The New Yorker

But I just always want to improve on something".

The New York Times - Sports

"Every year I want to get better at something, improve on something.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's always natural after a year of time to evaluate what has happened and how to improve on something," Mr. McKeon said.

The New York Times

Beyond the technical difficulties, several founders of e-mail startups cite the complexity of trying to improve on something that is extremely important to so many of us, but used so differently by all of us.

MIT Technology Review

"The question is can you improve on something as highly evolved and well suited to its task as the book?

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

He was big on saying something positive, something to improve on, then something positive again.

BMC Medical Education

Every time I see her play, she's improving on something".

The New York Times - Sports

Sleep is a mysterious thing, something that we can't relfect on or really improve on without outside aid.

Cornell University

I couldn't improve on this but offered something rather feeble for another song.

The New York Times - Magazine

He said: "I have watched three-quarters of the games now, there are maybe only a couple to go, and analysed some things we can improve on, and that's something I will present to the players in the next seven days.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "improve on something", ensure that the object being improved is clearly defined to provide context and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "improve on something" when the change is minimal or insignificant; reserve it for notable enhancements or advancements.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "improve on something" functions as a verb phrase indicating an action to enhance or surpass an existing condition or standard. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across different contexts. The phrase directs focus towards the act of betterment.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

22%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Science

11%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "improve on something" is a grammatically correct and relatively common expression used to indicate making enhancements or advancements to an existing item or process. Ludwig AI confirms its broad applicability across diverse contexts, including news, academia, and general writing. While similar phrases like "enhance something" and "refine something" exist, "improve on something" specifically suggests exceeding a previous state. Use the phrase when the change is significant and remember to define the object being improved for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enhance something

Replaces "improve" with "enhance", focusing on increasing the quality or value of something.

refine something

Suggests making subtle but impactful improvements to something that is already good.

build upon something

Emphasizes adding to an existing foundation to create something better or more complete.

develop something further

Focuses on the ongoing process of improving and expanding on something.

take something to the next level

Indicates advancing something to a higher or more advanced stage.

make advancements in something

Highlights the act of making progress and improvement in a specific area.

advance something

Focuses on moving something forward, implying improvement.

boost something

Suggests enhancing something quickly and effectively.

polish something

Implies refining something to perfection by removing flaws.

perfect something

Focuses on achieving the highest possible standard of quality in something.

FAQs

How can I use "improve on something" in a sentence?

You can use "improve on something" to indicate making enhancements or advancements to an existing item or process. For example, "The company aims to "enhance the product" based on customer feedback."

What are some alternatives to "improve on something"?

Alternatives include "enhance something", "refine something", or "build upon something", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "improve on something" or "improve something"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "improve something" is more direct. "Improve on something" often implies exceeding a previous standard or version. Consider using "perfect something".

What does it mean to "improve on something"?

To "improve on something" means to make it better, more effective, or of higher quality than it was before. This can involve adding new features, fixing flaws, or enhancing existing attributes. Often this phrase is referred as "boost something".