improve over time

USAGE SUMMARY

"improve over time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something has increased in value, quality, or amount as time has passed. For example: "My skills in the kitchen have improved over time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Only one of the three scouts expressed any belief that the tandem might improve over time.

The New York Times - Sports

Threads must continually improve over time.

TechCrunch

Not all wines improve over time.

WikiHow

Fortunately many patients will improve over time.

The New York Times

Jennings could also improve over time.

The New York Times

Will this improve over time?

Harvard University

It will improve over time.

The Guardian - Tech

They're unlikely to improve over time.

The New York Times - Health

Results did not improve over time.

European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery

Our hockey team has been allowed to improve over time.

The Guardian - Sport

I think the quality of service will improve over time".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing long-term projects or strategies, use "improve over time" to highlight the expectation of continuous development and refinement. This sets a positive tone and indicates a commitment to ongoing progress.

Common error

Avoid using "improve over time" when there's a significant risk of stagnation or decline. Qualify the statement with phrases like "is expected to" or "has the potential to" to manage expectations realistically.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "improve over time" functions as a verb phrase indicating a process of betterment or positive change that occurs gradually as time passes. Ludwig shows that this phrase is frequently used to describe systems, skills, or qualities that are expected to enhance with experience or development. The Ludwig AI states that the phrase is correct and usable in written English to express increases in value, quality, or amount.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

27%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "improve over time" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression that signifies a gradual process of betterment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for describing situations, skills, or qualities expected to develop positively over time. This expression is found across various contexts, especially in News & Media, Science, and Academia, indicating a neutral to professional register. When using this phrase, set realistic expectations about the rate and certainty of improvement, ensuring your message aligns with the overall trend. Alternatives include "develop gradually" or "get better with age", depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

develop gradually

Emphasizes the slow, incremental nature of the development process.

progress steadily

Focuses on the consistent and unwavering advancement toward a goal.

get better with age

Highlights the positive transformation occurring as something ages, implying maturity and refinement.

mature with time

Implies a natural process of growth and refinement, often associated with living things or complex systems.

refine incrementally

Highlights the small, precise adjustments that lead to improvement.

build up gradually

Emphasizes the accumulation of elements or qualities that contribute to the overall improvement.

evolve continuously

Suggests an ongoing adaptation and refinement in response to changing conditions.

grow over the period

Focuses on growth happening during a specific timeframe, rather than indefinitely.

gain traction progressively

Highlights the increasing momentum and effectiveness over time.

advance in stages

Suggests a structured and planned approach to improvement, with clearly defined steps.

FAQs

How can I use "improve over time" in a sentence?

You can use "improve over time" to describe something that gets better as time passes, such as "The algorithm is designed to "learn and improve over time"" or "The relationship between the two companies "will improve over time by building trust"".

What are some alternatives to "improve over time"?

Alternatives include "develop gradually", "progress steadily", or "get better with age", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "improve over a period of time"?

While not strictly redundant, "improve over time" is generally preferred because it's more concise. Adding "a period of" doesn't significantly alter the meaning, but it does make the phrase slightly longer.

When should I not use the phrase "improve over time"?

Avoid using "improve over time" if there's no realistic expectation of betterment. For instance, if a situation is known to deteriorate, it's more accurate to say it is "decline over time" or "worsen over time" instead.