incremental improvements

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "incremental improvements" is correct and can be used in written English.
This phrase refers to small or gradual improvements made over time rather than larger, dramatic changes. Here are some examples of how this phrase could be used in a sentence: - Our company's success is due to the consistent and incremental improvements we have made to our products over the years. - The team implemented a strategy of incremental improvements, which resulted in a 10% increase in sales each quarter. - The city government announced plans for incremental improvements to the public transportation system, starting with adding more bus routes in underserved areas. - The athlete's coach emphasized the importance of making incremental improvements in their training routine in order to see long-term progress. - The project manager suggested breaking down the project into smaller, incremental improvements to make it more manageable.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Incremental improvements overtime.

Cornell University

But again, really, these are incremental improvements.

The Guardian - Tech

Innovation comes from rethinking, not incremental improvements.

Harvard Business Review

Incremental improvements are unlikely to be enough.

MIT Technology Review

It is an amalgam of dozens of incremental improvements.

The New York Times

Along with the incremental improvements come other changes.

The New York Times - Science

When voters are this disheartened, incremental improvements aren't good enough.

The Washington Post

People can use revolutionary approaches while making incremental improvements.

Harvard Business Review

We're making progress, but incremental improvements are not enough.

The New York Times

Many of these incremental improvements will now be deemed obvious.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The iPhone continues its annual upgrades of incremental improvements.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In business contexts, pair this phrase with the concept of "Kaizen" or continuous improvement to demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of operational efficiency.

Common error

Avoid using "incremental improvements" when describing a single, large-scale overhaul. The term specifically requires a series of small changes over a period of time. If a change is significant and happens all at once, use "transformational change" or "major upgrade" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incremental improvements" acts as a compound noun phrase where the adjective "incremental" modifies the plural noun "improvements". In the examples provided by Ludwig, it frequently serves as the direct object of verbs like "make", "pursue" or "achieve". It functions as a precise descriptor for a specific philosophy of progress that values consistency over sudden transformation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

3%

Social Media

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "incremental improvements" is a highly effective and versatile phrase used to describe a philosophy of gradual, persistent progress. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely accepted across all high-authority English sources. Whether used in a positive sense to celebrate steady growth or in a restrictive sense to suggest that more radical change is needed, it remains a cornerstone of professional and academic discourse. The sheer volume of examples in Ludwig—spanning from The New York Times to Harvard Business Review—underscores its importance in describing everything from technological updates to social reforms and personal development.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

marginal gains

emphasizes very small but significant improvements, often used in sports and performance optimization

gradual refinements

suggests a process of polishing or perfecting an existing system rather than just making it better

steady enhancements

focuses on the consistency and regularity of the improvements over time

step-by-step progress

uses more accessible language to describe a methodical advancement

minor adjustments

implies smaller, perhaps less impactful changes compared to 'improvements'

cumulative updates

specifically refers to improvements that add up over time, often in a technical or software context

evolutionary changes

contrasts with 'revolutionary' changes to describe natural, slow development

successive iterations

highlights the repetitive nature of the process in design or engineering

slight optimizations

focuses on efficiency and fine-tuning rather than general bettering

piecemeal improvements

can sometimes carry a negative connotation of being disorganized or unsystematic

FAQs

How to use "incremental improvements" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a process of growth, for example: "The software's success is built on a decade of "incremental improvements" rather than a single redesign."

What can I say instead of "incremental improvements"?

Depending on your focus, you might use "marginal gains" for performance, "gradual refinements" for quality or "steady progress" for general advancement.

Is "incremental improvements" formal?

Yes, it is highly appropriate for professional, academic and journalistic writing. It is a standard term in economics, engineering and business management.

What is the difference between "incremental improvements" and "disruptive innovation"?

""incremental improvements"" refer to small, cumulative changes to an existing product or service, while "disruptive innovation" refers to a completely new approach that displaces established market leaders.