improve shortly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "improve shortly" is not correct and may lead to confusion in written English.
It is unclear in meaning, as "shortly" typically refers to a time frame rather than a manner of improvement. Example: "We expect to improve shortly, but we need more time to implement the changes."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

And, as detailed in the final full article in this series, some of these routes are expected to improve shortly.

The Guardian

"If the marketplace does not improve shortly or we do not take steps to ensure liquidity, then our students will be the ultimate losers," Representative Christopher Shays, Republican of Connecticut, wrote in a letter Tuesday to Henry M. Paulson Jr., the secretary of the Treasury, and Margaret Spellings, the secretary of education.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Charles Okumu's daughter, Mercy, improved shortly after taking Mr. Ojara's mixture, although he said he was not certain the herbs were the reason.

The New York Times

The performance was significantly improved shortly after 12 h of incubation.

AMB Express

And their mood was not improved shortly afterwards when Ireland set up Odemwingie.

BBC

Of course, its weak spot, battery, may be improved shortly with the launch of the next version of the iPhone, which may happen this summer.

TechCrunch

Those with partial injury with high Frankel grades may improve significantly shortly after surgery.

BioMed Research International

When I picked it up again a few years later, I too was astonished at how much it had improved – and shortly thereafter secretly devastated by the fact that not only could I be an idiot in all matters sporting, artistic and practical I could also be so when it came to reading too.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

City improved and, shortly after Carlos Tevez hit the bar, Dzeko volleyed home from 12 yards.

BBC

Weight gain, which was fairly static until presentation despite parenteral nutrition and enteral feeds, improved significantly shortly after treatment (Fig.  2).

BMC Pediatrics

Moreover, MSC-derived exosome treatment could efficiently reduce the pro-inflammatory cytokine response in patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro, and the clinical symptoms of GVHD could be improved significantly shortly after the start of MSC-derived exosome therapy [ 156].

Chinese Journal of Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating a future improvement, prioritize clarity. Using phrases like "improve soon" or "improve quickly" avoids potential confusion.

Common error

The word "shortly" typically describes a time frame, not the manner of improvement. Avoid using "shortly" to describe the way something will improve. Use it only to indicate when the improvement will occur.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "improve shortly" functions as a verb phrase intended to indicate that an improvement will occur in the near future. However, as Ludwig AI points out, its usage is grammatically questionable, as "shortly" typically modifies the timing of an action, not the manner in which it occurs.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "improve shortly" intends to communicate a future improvement, it's often considered grammatically awkward. Ludwig AI suggests that "shortly" usually describes the timing of an action rather than its manner. For clearer communication, consider using alternatives like "improve soon" or "improve quickly". Though found in news and scientific contexts, its rare and potentially confusing usage advises against its use in formal writing. When aiming to convey a positive change in the near future, opting for more direct and grammatically sound alternatives ensures clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Improve soon

Replaces 'shortly' with 'soon', offering a simpler and more direct indication of timing.

Improve quickly

Substitutes 'shortly' with 'quickly', emphasizing the speed of the improvement.

Improve rapidly

Uses 'rapidly' instead of 'shortly', highlighting a fast rate of improvement.

See improvement soon

Adds a sense of anticipation, suggesting that improvement will become visible in the near future.

Show improvement soon

Similar to 'see improvement soon', but emphasizes the demonstration of improvement.

Get better soon

Uses the more informal 'get better' to indicate improvement in a short time frame.

Progress shortly

Replaces 'improve' with 'progress', shifting the focus to advancement happening soon.

Make progress shortly

Similar to 'progress shortly', but adds an active element indicating an effort to progress.

Advance shortly

Uses 'advance' instead of 'improve', suggesting a forward movement in the near future.

Make headway shortly

Uses 'make headway' for showing initial progress in the future.

FAQs

What's a clearer alternative to "improve shortly"?

Alternatives that avoid potential confusion include "improve soon", which focuses on the timing of the improvement, or "improve significantly", if the emphasis is on the degree of improvement.

Is it grammatically correct to use "shortly" to describe how something improves?

While not strictly ungrammatical, using "shortly" to describe the manner of improvement is unusual and can be confusing. It's best to use adverbs that describe how, such as "improve quickly".

How can I use "shortly" correctly in a sentence about improvement?

Use "shortly" to indicate the timing of the improvement, such as "The situation is expected to improve shortly." This clarifies when the improvement will happen, rather than how.

Which is more appropriate, "the situation will improve shortly" or "the situation will improve dramatically"?

"The situation will improve shortly" focuses on the timing, meaning it will happen soon. "The situation will improve dramatically" focuses on the degree or extent of the improvement. Choose the phrasing that best reflects the intended meaning.