make the better

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make the better" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not a commonly used expression and may confuse readers. Example: "We need to make the better choice for our future."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And who would make the better president?

The New York Times

"The more experiments you make the better".

The Guardian

But the British still make the better case.

The New York Times - Arts

To Mussina, the more contact the Yankees make, the better.

The New York Times - Sports

"The fewer mistakes I make, the better off I'll be.

The New York Times - Sports

Let's see who can make the better argument against him.

The New York Times

"Really, I just believed that at this time Bush would make the better commander-in-chief.

The New Yorker

The more branches you force the plant to make, the better the shape will be.

The New York Times

And it's their special genius that the less effort they make, the better they look.

The Guardian - Music

"Families are beginning to make the better choice of taking that apartment".

The New York Times

Mr Schröder came over as the more likeable of the two and likely to make the better chancellor.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the phrase "make the better", opt for more grammatically sound alternatives such as "make a better choice" or "make things better". These variations are clearer and more widely accepted.

Common error

Avoid using "make the better" in formal writing or speech. Although it appears in some contexts, it's not a standard idiom and can be perceived as incorrect. Instead, choose established phrases to ensure clarity and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make the better" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to express the act of improving or choosing a superior option. While it appears in various contexts, Ludwig AI indicates it's not considered standard English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "make the better" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI flags it as not being standard English. Its function generally revolves around indicating improvement or choosing a superior option. Although frequently found in News & Media, it's advisable to use grammatically correct alternatives like "make a better choice" or "improve upon" in formal contexts to maintain clarity and credibility. Therefore, while its usage is common, caution is advised in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make it better

A more direct and concise way of expressing the act of improving something.

make a better choice

Emphasizes the act of selecting a superior option from available choices.

make things better

General expression indicating an improvement in a situation or condition.

make a positive change

Focuses on creating a change that leads to improvement or betterment.

make improvements

Focuses on the action of improving something, rather than creating something inherently superior.

create a better version

Highlights the development of an improved iteration of something existing.

make a superior product

Highlights the creation of a product that is of higher quality than others.

foster improvement

Emphasizes the act of encouraging or nurturing improvement in a process or environment.

promote betterment

Highlights efforts to enhance the quality or condition of something.

make the best of

Implies optimizing or improving a situation that might not be ideal initially.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "make the better"?

Consider using phrases such as "make a better choice", "improve upon", or "enhance" depending on the intended meaning.

Is "make the better" grammatically correct?

While the phrase "make the better" appears in some contexts, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It's better to use alternatives like "make a better decision" or "improve the situation".

How can I use "make the better" correctly in a sentence?

It is generally advisable to avoid using "make the better" in formal writing. If you intend to convey the idea of choosing a superior option, use "choose the better" instead. For improving something, use "improve".

What's the difference between "make the better" and "make it better"?

"Make the better" is not a standard English phrase. "Make it better" means to improve something that already exists. For example: "I will make it better by fixing the error".