improve on that

USAGE SUMMARY

"improve on that" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to ask someone to do something better than before. For example: "You made a good presentation, but I think you can improve on that."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We can definitely improve on that.

BBC

"I can definitely improve on that.

Huffington Post

I have to improve on that.

Independent

Can't improve on that.

The New York Times

I can't improve on that.

The Guardian

There's even room to improve on that.

The New York Times

He constantly pushed himself to improve on that.

The Guardian

As for the method, we can certainly improve on that.

The New York Times

I don't think I can improve on that.

The Guardian - Music

A new website called Hatchet aims to improve on that.

The Guardian - Tech

But as far as football and Sundays, we have to improve on that.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "improve on that", clearly define what "that" refers to. Vagueness can weaken the statement. E.g., Instead of saying 'We need to improve on that', clarify by stating 'We need to improve on last quarter's sales figures'.

Common error

Avoid using "improve on that" when the situation requires a complete overhaul rather than incremental improvement. The phrase suggests refining something already in place, not replacing it entirely.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "improve on that" primarily functions as a directive verb phrase, urging enhancement or surpassing of a specific action, result, or standard. Ludwig examples showcase the phrase's role in suggesting better performance or quality.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Sports

21%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Science

8%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "improve on that" is a versatile and commonly used phrase for suggesting enhancements or surpassing existing standards. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use in diverse contexts, from News & Media to sports and business. The phrase effectively conveys a desire for progress or better performance, with related phrases like ""do better than that"" and "surpass that" offering similar nuances. Remember to define "that" clearly to avoid ambiguity and focus on incremental refinements rather than complete overhauls. It appears in a neutral register, and its high frequency underscores its importance in effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

do better than that

Focuses on exceeding a previous performance or standard.

surpass that

Emphasizes going beyond a specific achievement or level.

outdo that

Implies exceeding a previous action or accomplishment.

build on that

Highlights developing something further from an existing foundation.

enhance that

Focuses on increasing the quality, value, or extent of something.

exceed that

Suggests surpassing a limit or expectation.

take it to the next level

Indicates advancing to a higher stage or quality.

make it better

A more general expression for improving something.

develop that further

Focuses on expanding and elaborating on a particular aspect.

refine that

Implies making subtle but significant improvements.

FAQs

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

You can use "improve on that" to suggest doing something better than before. For example, "The team performed well, but we can still "do better than that"" or "The initial design was good, but let's "make it better"".

What are some alternatives to "improve on that"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "surpass that", "outdo that", or "build on that".

Is it more appropriate to use "improve on that" or "improve upon that"?

"Improve on that" and "improve upon that" are often used interchangeably. However, "improve on that" is generally more common in modern usage. Both are grammatically correct.

In what contexts is "improve on that" most suitable?

"Improve on that" is suitable in various contexts, from professional settings to casual conversations, when you want to indicate that something can be enhanced or made better than its current state or previous performance. For example, "We achieved our sales target this quarter but are confident we can "exceed that" next quarter".