improved very

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "improved very" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used in contexts where one wants to emphasize a significant enhancement or increase, but it lacks clarity and precision. Example: "The team's performance improved very significantly after the new training program was implemented."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

After that he improved very quickly with the first team".

The Guardian - Sport

Inequalities are now more complex, diffused and malleable (though social mobility has improved very little).

The Guardian - Opinion

The tests showed that even with a term of instruction, their understanding hadn't improved very much.

The New York Times - Science

In the end, the total time to release improved very little.

Harvard Business Review

After 12 weeks, 80percentt of children receiving the combined therapy had either shaken their anxiety or improved very much.

The New York Times

Netbooks are good value but they have not improved very much over the past couple of years, and you already have one.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

Aircraft financing is improving very significantly".

The New York Times

"I'm improving very quickly," he said.

The New York Times

"I'm improving very quickly," he said, not without surprise.

The New York Times

"Over time, things will improve very, very significantly.

The New York Times

If they want to win, they'd better improve very fast.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the degree of improvement, avoid using "very" directly after "improved". Instead, opt for adverbs like "significantly", "greatly", or "substantially" to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "very" as a direct intensifier after "improved". While understandable, it sounds awkward and is grammatically weak. Instead, use stronger, more specific adverbs to enhance your writing and provide a more precise description of the change.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "improved very" functions as a verb modifier, aiming to intensify the degree of improvement. However, it's considered grammatically weak. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is not correct in standard written English, suggesting stronger adverbs for better clarity and precision.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "improved very" is frequently used, as shown by Ludwig, but it's considered grammatically incorrect in standard written English. While its intent is to emphasize the extent of improvement, stronger adverbs like "significantly", "greatly", or "substantially" provide better clarity and impact. Though common, especially in science and news media, this phrasing leans toward informal register and is best avoided in formal writing. Opting for more precise alternatives elevates the quality and professionalism of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

improved significantly

Replaces "very" with a more grammatically accepted adverb emphasizing the extent of the improvement.

improved greatly

Substitutes "very" with "greatly" to indicate a substantial degree of improvement.

improved substantially

Uses "substantially" instead of "very" to highlight a considerable improvement.

improved considerably

Employs "considerably" to convey a noteworthy improvement.

improved markedly

Replaces "very" with "markedly" to suggest an easily noticeable improvement.

improved noticeably

Focuses on the perceptible nature of the improvement.

improved dramatically

Emphasizes a sudden and significant improvement.

improved exceptionally

Highlights an improvement that goes beyond the ordinary.

improved remarkably

Indicates that the improvement is worthy of attention due to its unexpected nature.

improved tangibly

Stresses that the improvement is concrete and measurable.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "improved very"?

Instead of "improved very", consider using phrases like "improved significantly", "improved greatly", or "improved substantially" for clearer and more impactful writing.

Is it always wrong to use "very" to modify "improved"?

While not strictly ungrammatical in all informal contexts, using "very" directly after "improved" is generally considered weak and less precise. Using stronger adverbs provides a better description of the extent of the improvement.

How can I emphasize the extent of an improvement without using "improved very"?

Use stronger adverbs such as "improved markedly", "improved dramatically", or "improved noticeably" to highlight the significance of the improvement. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "improved very much" and "improved significantly"?

"Improved very much" is acceptable but less formal. "Improved significantly" is grammatically correct and conveys a more professional and polished tone. Choose "significantly" for formal writing.