improves upon it

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "improves upon it" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing enhancements or advancements made to an existing idea, product, or concept. Example: "The new software version improves upon it by adding several user-friendly features that enhance functionality."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"Just when you think you've seen his best, he improves upon it.

The New York Times

(2006), and improves upon it by employing network coding to accurately distinguish among all different 2-by-2 components.

Physical Communication

The history of the battle for search dominance is consistent: Yahoo! is first to introduce something, and then Google improves upon it.

Forbes

The algorithm is similar to that proposed by Hagmann et al. [13], but improves upon it by allowing adaptive modulation of the tracking direction so that it behaves more like a deterministic fiber tracking in the white matter region but is of more probabilistic nature in the gray matter region.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The goal is to improve upon it prior to its scheduled time of occurrence with something that serves your personal or professional aspirations more.

Huffington Post

The company released its first shiny object, improved upon it and released a second generation — all the while ignoring the outside noise.

TechCrunch

Inventors, being technology’s severest critics, have focused on the failings of the Gem in their attempts to improve upon it, as attested to by hundreds of patents for improvements.

Forbes

"You cannot improve upon it.

The New York Times

We improved upon it.

The New Yorker

Maybe legislators in New York and elsewhere can improve upon it.

The New York Times

"And I don't believe it's possible for the campaigns to improve upon it".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "improves upon it", ensure the context clearly identifies what is being improved. Be specific about the aspects or features that are enhanced.

Common error

Avoid using "improves upon it" without clearly stating what "it" refers to. Ambiguity can confuse the reader and weaken your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "improves upon it" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a transitive verb followed by a prepositional phrase. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is usable in written English, signaling an action that enhances or betters something already in existence. It describes how something has been made superior to a previous version or state.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "improves upon it" is a grammatically sound and contextually versatile expression used to convey enhancement or refinement. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for formal and informal communications. The phrase appears across a spectrum of sources, ranging from news outlets like The New York Times to scientific journals like PlosOne, indicating broad applicability. When employing the expression, ensure a clear antecedent for “it” to maintain clarity. Alternatives such as "enhances it" or "builds upon it" provide similar meanings with slightly different connotations. Given its infrequent use, incorporating "improves upon it" adds a nuanced dimension to writing, highlighting progress and refinement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enhances it

Focuses on the action of making something better, more appealing or more effective.

builds upon it

Emphasizes the idea of using the existing thing as a foundation for something greater.

refines it

Implies making subtle but impactful changes to improve something.

advances it

Highlights forward progress or development.

perfects it

Suggests achieving the highest possible standard.

ameliorates it

Focuses on alleviating negative aspects while improving overall quality.

augments it

Highlights increasing size, number, or degree of something.

develops it further

Emphasizes the continuity of improvement over time.

takes it to the next level

Implies significant advancement beyond the current state.

elevates it

Suggests raising something to a higher status or standard.

FAQs

How can I use "improves upon it" in a sentence?

You can use "improves upon it" to describe how a new version or iteration of something is better than the previous one. For example, "The new model "improves upon it" by adding enhanced security features".

What are some alternatives to "improves upon it"?

Alternatives to "improves upon it" include phrases like "enhances it", "builds upon it", or "refines it", which all convey the idea of making something better.

Is it correct to say "improve on it" instead of "improves upon it"?

While "improve on it" is grammatically correct, "improves upon it" is often seen as more formal and emphasizes a more significant degree of enhancement.

What is the difference between "builds upon it" and "improves upon it"?

"Builds upon it" suggests adding to an existing foundation, whereas "improves upon it" implies enhancing or refining something that already exists. Therefore, "builds upon it" indicates adding new features, while "improves upon it" means enhancing existing ones.