it required improvement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it required improvement" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the need for enhancement or betterment in a particular area, such as performance, quality, or skills. Example: "After reviewing the project, it was clear that it required improvement in several key areas to meet our standards."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

UCL academy school in Camden, the first school in the country to have a university – University College London – as sole sponsor, was told by Ofsted it required improvement.

The Guardian

CQC's most recent inspection report on Colchester hospital, published in July, found that it required improvement in the key areas of safety and responsiveness and had inadequate leadership.

The Guardian

The CQC's most recent inspection report on Colchester hospital, published in July, found that it required improvement in the key areas of safety and responsiveness and had inadequate leadership.

The Guardian

Comments identify aspects of why and how cancer care was good, and whether or not it required improvement, from the patients' perspective.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Three critical Ofsted reports have said it "requires improvement".

The Guardian

The trust was also told it requires improvement for being effective and responsive, although it was rated good for caring.

The Guardian

Similarly London's Harley Street Clinic, run by HCA International, was rated as good overall, even though it "requires improvement" for both safety and the treatment of children.

Independent

After the inspection in March, Fosse Way scored "inadequate" in all areas but caring, for which it "requires improvement".

BBC

The fix: This is a hard problem to fix and unfortunately, it requires improvement in skills, systems, technology, process, integration, and collaboration.

Forbes

The economic arm of it has required improvement from day one, as we know, and we need to work out how it should be reformed as it moves forward.

EU Parlament

Inspectors had rated it as requiring improvement in February 2013, before it became an academy last October.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it required improvement", specify the area needing improvement for clarity. For example, "The project required improvement in its project management aspect."

Common error

Avoid excessive passive voice when using "it required improvement". Instead of "The report required improvement", consider "The team needed to improve the report" for a more direct and engaging tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it required improvement" functions as a statement indicating that something was not satisfactory and needed enhancement or modification. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It commonly appears in reports and assessments to denote areas needing further work.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it required improvement" is a grammatically sound and usable expression, as confirmed by Ludwig, signifying the need for enhancement or modification. While not exceedingly common, it frequently appears in contexts such as news reports, scientific studies, and formal business assessments. The phrase's neutral register and formal undertones render it suitable for professional communications. For clarity, it's best to specify the area requiring improvement. Remember to avoid overuse of the passive voice and consider more active alternatives. Similar expressions include "it needed enhancement" and "it could be better". This comprehensive guide provides a clear understanding of its usage and best practices.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it needed enhancement

This alternative directly replaces "required improvement" with "needed enhancement", focusing on the necessity of improvement.

it called for refinement

This option uses a more formal term, "refinement", suggesting a need for subtle improvements.

it warranted revision

This suggests a more formal review and change was necessary.

it could be better

This alternative is a more general statement indicating the possibility of improvement.

it demanded adjustment

This alternative expresses a strong need for alteration.

it was wanting in quality

This alternative highlights the deficiency in quality as the reason for needing improvement.

it stood in need of betterment

This phrase is a more formal and somewhat archaic way of saying that something needed improvement.

it was ripe for optimization

Suggests it was a good candidate to undergo actions that will produce the most favorable or efficient result.

it left something to be desired

This idiomatic expression indicates that it was not completely satisfactory and required improvement.

it was less than perfect

This suggests that it was not flawless and needed some modifications.

FAQs

What does "it required improvement" mean?

The phrase "it required improvement" means that something was not up to standard and needed to be enhanced or modified to reach a satisfactory level. It indicates a need for betterment in terms of quality, performance, or other relevant aspects.

What can I say instead of "it required improvement"?

You can use alternatives like "it needed enhancement", "it could be better", or "it called for refinement" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "it required improvement" or "it needed improvement"?

Both "it required improvement" and "it needed improvement" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice between them often depends on the desired tone and formality. "Required" tends to be slightly more formal than "needed."

How do I use "it required improvement" in a sentence?

You can use "it required improvement" in sentences such as, "After the initial review, it was evident that the process "it required improvement" in efficiency" or "The software, while functional, "it required improvement" in user interface design".