less improved

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less improved" is not correct in standard English usage.
It is typically used incorrectly as "improved" already implies a positive change, so "less improved" creates a contradiction. Example: "The new version of the software is less improved than the previous one."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

I feel like I've aged, and I feel like I've more or less improved with age.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Eiland said that there had been many improvements since 2006, especially on the military side, "but the linkage between the political level and the military level is less improved".

The New York Times

At the end of the day the paper published in a Gold open access journal becomes less widely read – it has been less improved by editorial intervention and less required to be accessible.

The Guardian

The authors of the study, which was published Tuesday in the journal Health Affairs, said it highlighted a significant question about the new federal health care law: can access to primary care be maintained, much less improved, when an already inadequate and inefficient system takes on an expected 32 million newly insured customers?

The New York Times - Health

These changes were markedly improved by insulin therapy and by insulin and memantine, and were less improved by memantine therapy alone.

F1000Research

One practical implication of these results is that marker-trait associations identified in advanced-generation crosses may not be repeated in relatively less improved breeding material (e.g. diverse germplasm).

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

I don't think I could have survived seven years of isolation – much less improve myself in the process.

The Guardian - Opinion

The idea is simple: discover which treatments work the best and, if they are comparably effective, determine which costs less – improving care and saving money.

The Guardian - Opinion

No machine could begin to mimic, still less improve upon, the remarkable array of muscles, sensors and intelligence that allow the human body to waltz or play the violin.

Forbes

No machine can begin to mimic, still less improve upon, the remarkable array of muscles, sensors and intelligence that allow the human body to waltz or play the violin.

Forbes

In many of these cases, the new manufacturers had done little to alter, much less improve, the traditional drugs before claiming FDA-mandated exclusivity periods ranging from three to seven years.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, avoid using "less improved". Instead, opt for more direct alternatives like "not as improved" or "minimally improved" to accurately convey the degree of enhancement.

Common error

Avoid using "less improved" when you intend to describe a small improvement. Instead, specify the extent of improvement using terms like "slightly improved" or "marginally improved" to provide a clearer understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less improved" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, aiming to describe the degree of improvement. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it's often considered grammatically questionable and can lead to ambiguity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

58%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "less improved" appears in a variety of sources, it's crucial to acknowledge, as Ludwig AI indicates, that it is generally considered grammatically awkward and can introduce ambiguity. With 15 real-world examples, it demonstrates a moderate frequency, particularly in scientific and news contexts. However, for enhanced clarity and precision, it is best to opt for alternatives such as "not as improved", "minimally improved", or "slightly improved" to more accurately convey the intended degree of enhancement. By choosing more precise language, writers can avoid potential confusion and ensure their message is effectively communicated.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not as improved

Indicates a lower degree of improvement compared to something else.

minimally improved

Emphasizes that the improvement is very slight or small.

slightly improved

Suggests a small degree of positive change.

hardly improved

Highlights that the improvement is barely noticeable.

marginally improved

Implies the improvement is at the edge of being significant.

not significantly improved

Indicates that the improvement isn't large enough to be considered important.

inadequately improved

Suggests that the improvement is not sufficient or satisfactory.

partially improved

Highlights that only some aspects have shown improvement.

somewhat improved

Indicates a limited or moderate level of improvement.

incompletely improved

Suggests that the process of improvement is unfinished or lacking.

FAQs

Is "less improved" grammatically correct?

While "less improved" appears in some publications, it's generally considered grammatically awkward. It's better to use phrases like "not as improved" or "slightly improved" for clarity.

What's a more formal way to say "less improved"?

In formal contexts, it's preferable to use phrases like "minimally improved" or "not significantly improved" to maintain precision and avoid ambiguity.

How can I use "less improved" correctly in a sentence?

Although it's best to avoid "less improved", if you must use it, ensure the context clearly indicates a comparison. For example: "This version is "not as improved" as the previous one."

What are some alternatives to "less improved" for describing a minor change?

You can use alternatives like "slightly better", "marginally better", or "somewhat better" depending on the context you wish to convey.