little improvement

USAGE SUMMARY

"little improvement" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a slow rate of progress, for instance: "Despite our hard work, we made only a little improvement in our test scores."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

However, initial tests of the dryer show little improvement over conventional sun-drying.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Worse, "improved sanitation" may offer relatively little improvement beyond the individual level.

Huffington Post

Meanwhile, an evaluation of leading universities' progress on improving access found another year of little improvement.

The Guardian

little improvement after several months.

Harvard University

There has been little improvement since then.

The New York Times

Yet, little improvement has happened.

Journal of Cleaner Production

Industry analysts expect little improvement this year.

The New York Times

And little improvement is expected soon.

The New York Times

So far, consumers have seen little improvement.

The New York Times

Even in Chile there was little improvement.

The Guardian - Sport

Related measures of economic wellbeing showed little improvement.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "little improvement", consider quantifying the lack of progress by comparing metrics before and after an intervention. For example, "After the new training program, there was little improvement in employee satisfaction scores, which only rose by 2%."

Common error

Avoid using "little improvement" to describe situations where there has been a noticeable, even if not dramatic, positive change. Instead, reserve it for scenarios where the progress is truly minimal or negligible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "little improvement" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes the degree or extent of progress made, generally implying that the progress is minimal or insignificant. As Ludwig explains, the phrase is a valid and usable part of the English language.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "little improvement" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that progress has been minimal or insignificant. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is a standard part of the English language, found frequently across a range of reputable sources. While the phrase is common in News & Media, Academia, and Science, it's important to remember it is not completely absent in other area. When employing this phrase, consider whether alternatives like "marginal progress" or "slight betterment" might be more appropriate to convey the precise degree of change. Make sure to reserve its usage for situations where the progress is truly minimal to avoid misrepresenting the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

marginal progress

Emphasizes the small and almost insignificant nature of the advancement.

slight betterment

Suggests a very small degree of positive change or enhancement.

modest advancement

Highlights the limited extent of the forward movement.

minimal gain

Focuses on the small amount of benefit or advantage achieved.

negligible progress

Indicates that the progress made is so small as to be almost nonexistent.

inconsequential development

Suggests that the development is not important or significant.

limited advancement

Highlights the restricted nature of the progress achieved.

scant progress

Emphasizes the insufficient or inadequate amount of advancement.

token improvement

Implies that the improvement is only superficial or symbolic.

hardly any progress

Directly states that there has been very little or almost no advancement.

FAQs

How can I use "little improvement" in a sentence?

You can use "little improvement" to describe a situation where progress is minimal. For example, "Despite the new policies, there was "little improvement" in air quality."

What are some alternatives to "little improvement"?

Alternatives to "little improvement" include phrases like "marginal progress", "slight betterment", or "minimal gain". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to say "a little improvement" or "little improvement"?

"A little improvement" suggests that some positive change has occurred, while "little improvement" emphasizes the lack of significant progress. The choice depends on whether you want to highlight the positive change or the overall lack of progress.

What's the difference between "little improvement" and "no improvement"?

"Little improvement" indicates that there has been some progress, although minimal. "No improvement", on the other hand, means that there has been absolutely no progress or change at all.