improve steadily

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "improve steadily" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a gradual and consistent enhancement or progress over time. Example: "The team's performance began to improve steadily after implementing the new training program."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

By some measures, the merger environment has continued to improve steadily.

The New York Times

The other pitchers in this durable group usually improve steadily early in their careers, peaking at around age 30.

The New York Times - Sports

Common Ground students begin high school with reading scores two to three years below grade level, though they improve steadily.

The New York Times

While the semiconductor manufacturing process underlying the modern microchip continues to improve steadily, specific new applications are frequently unpredictable.

The New York Times

Glavine said his arm strength felt suspect for the first few innings, then started to improve steadily.

The New York Times - Sports

BA is proud of its new seats and has seen business-class traffic improve steadily in the past few months.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

Graft survival in renal transplant patients has improved steadily over the last decades as a result of improved immunosuppressive therapies.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

But he has improved steadily since then.

The New York Times - Sports

Instruments and instrumentalists had improved steadily.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Hentgen, he said, has improved steadily.

The New York Times - Sports

As for Preston, he has improved steadily.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "improve steadily" to describe situations where progress is consistent and incremental, avoiding dramatic or sudden changes. This suggests reliability and sustained effort.

Common error

While "improve steadily" implies consistent progress, it might not be appropriate when describing situations that require quick, significant advancements. In such cases, consider stronger verbs or adverbs to convey the urgency and magnitude of the desired change.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "improve steadily" functions as a verb-adverb construction, where "improve" is the verb indicating advancement and "steadily" is the adverb modifying it, describing the manner of the improvement. Ludwig's examples show it often describes gradual progress over time.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "improve steadily" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe consistent, gradual progress. As indicated by Ludwig, it is most frequently found in News & Media and Science contexts, conveying a neutral tone. While versatile, writers should be mindful of situations where more rapid or dramatic improvement is needed, opting for stronger language when appropriate. By using "improve steadily" judiciously, one can effectively communicate the idea of reliability and sustainable enhancement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

improve continuously

Focuses on the uninterrupted nature of the improvement.

improve progressively

Emphasizes the step-by-step advancement.

improve constantly

Highlights the unchanging frequency of improvement.

improve increasingly

Suggests that the rate of improvement is itself growing.

advance gradually

Highlights the slow, measured nature of the progress.

develop consistently

Similar to "improve steadily" but uses a different verb focusing on development.

progress systematically

Focuses on the ordered and methodical nature of the progress.

evolve incrementally

Suggests a slow, evolutionary change.

gain ground consistently

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey continuous advancement.

demonstrate continuous improvement

Rephrases the idea to emphasize a visible and ongoing enhancement.

FAQs

How can I use "improve steadily" in a sentence?

You can use "improve steadily" to describe a gradual and consistent process. For example, "The company's profits "began to improve" steadily after the new marketing campaign was launched."

What can I say instead of "improve steadily"?

You can use alternatives like "progress consistently", "advance gradually", or "develop consistently depending on the context.

Is it more accurate to say "improve steadily" or "improve rapidly"?

The choice between "improve steadily" and "improve rapidly" depends on the nature of the improvement. "Improve steadily" suggests a consistent, gradual process, while "improve rapidly" indicates a quick and significant advancement.

What's the difference between "improve steadily" and "maintain steadily"?

"Improve steadily" describes a process of continuous enhancement, while "maintain steadily" refers to keeping something at a consistent level. One focuses on growth, the other on stability.