improved upon

USAGE SUMMARY

"improved upon" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you need to express that an already existing process or result has been improved upon with new or additional measures. For example: "The new car model has improved upon its predecessor in handling and engine speed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Anything that lasts 500 years is not easily improved upon," Mr. Bezos said.

The New York Times - Books

We improved upon it.

The New Yorker

It cannot be improved upon.

The New York Times - Arts

He accepted and improved upon them.

The New York Times

Lincoln improved upon that bland phrase.

The New York Times

"Protocols, policies can always be improved upon.

The New York Times

Nature magnified and, perhaps, improved upon.

The New York Times

Four majors cannot be improved upon.

The New York Times - Sports

In fact, he improved upon it.

The Washington Post

He took genuine innovations and improved upon them.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

You cannot improve upon perfection.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "improved upon" to clearly indicate that something has been enhanced or made better as a direct result of modifications or additions.

Common error

Avoid using "improved upon" when referring to something that is entirely new and not derived from a pre-existing version. Instead, use terms like "created" or "developed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "improved upon" functions as a verb phrase acting as a predicate, indicating that something has been enhanced or made better compared to a previous state. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a standard and usable construction in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "improved upon" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that something has been enhanced or made better. As Ludwig AI specifies, it's correct and usable in written English, conveying progress or advancement. While it's suitable for both formal and informal settings, it's more commonly found in neutral to formal writing like news, science, and academia. The phrase functions as a verb phrase acting as a predicate. Remember to use it when referring to direct enhancements of existing items, and not for entirely new creations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enhanced upon

Similar to "improved upon" but places a slightly stronger emphasis on augmentation.

enhanced

Focuses on the act of making something better, often by adding to it.

bettered

A simple and direct way of saying something was made better than before.

built upon

Suggests that something new was constructed using the original as a foundation.

advanced

Emphasizes progress and forward movement from the original state.

refined

Implies that the original was made more pure, precise, or elegant.

upgraded

Implies the enhancement was achieved through new components or technologies.

surpassed

Indicates exceeding or outdoing the original in quality or performance.

outstripped

Similar to 'surpassed', suggesting going far beyond the initial achievements.

perfected

Suggests the achievement of flawlessness, implying that the original was brought to its best possible state.

FAQs

How can I use "improved upon" in a sentence?

Use "improved upon" to indicate that something has been enhanced or refined compared to a previous version. For example, "The latest model "improved upon" the previous one in terms of fuel efficiency."

What is a good alternative to "improved upon"?

Alternatives include "enhanced", "built upon", or "refined", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say 'improved on' instead of "improved upon"?

While "improved on" is sometimes used, "improved upon" is generally considered more formal and grammatically correct, especially in writing.

What's the difference between "improved upon" and "enhanced"?

"Improved upon" specifically implies making something better than it was previously, while "enhanced" simply means to increase or intensify the qualities of something.