mildly better

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mildly better" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a slight improvement in comparison to something else. Example: "After making a few adjustments, the new version of the software is mildly better than the previous one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Good neighbours had become... mildly better acquaintances.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Two years later he returned to Glasgow only mildly better.

The New York Times - Magazine

The climate, economically and politically, is so bad that even if conditions are only mildly better abroad they are opting to go," he said.

The Guardian

Nevertheless, the picture for the UK is mildly better than six months ago, when, in the depths of the euro crisis, the OECD said unemployment would rise to 8.3% this year.

The Guardian - Business

We have the alternative vote system (mildly better than first-past-the-post) to work with, so you can vote for any party first, and then, in the final round, choose from the front-runners and have both votes counted in full.

The Guardian - Opinion

Today, HTC announced it would be bundling previous-generation controllers and sensors with the Vive Pro for an additional $299, bringing the all-in price for consumers to a mind-boggling $1,098 for a system that's only mildly better than its competitors.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

"If you stimulate more mildly, you get better quality embryos and perhaps a healthier uterine environment.

The Guardian

His head-to-head polls against Mr. Romney have so far declined only mildly, and are better at the state level than in national tracking polls.

The New York Times

The engine is shared with the brutal Vanquish supercar, but is mildly retuned to better serve the larger, heavier Rapide (horsepower is down slightly relative to the Vanquish, but torque crests a bit sooner).

BBC

Rebound Illness Feeling mildly sick, then better and then sick again could be a sign of a "superinfection" -- a more serious secondary infection that results when your immune system is weakened from a mild illness.

Huffington Post

Taylor never looks much better than mildly uncomfortable, and fails to score.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing two options, using "mildly better" can soften the contrast and avoid sounding overly critical or biased.

Common error

Avoid using "mildly better" when the improvement is actually substantial. Overstating a minor change can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mildly better" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, modifying the adjective "better" to indicate the degree of improvement. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. The adverb "mildly" softens the comparison, suggesting a subtle difference.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "mildly better" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to denote a slight improvement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to qualify the adjective "better", softening the comparison. While the phrase appears most often in News & Media sources, its usage is neutral and generally appropriate for varied contexts, though more formal settings may benefit from alternatives like "somewhat superior". Remember to reserve "mildly better" for genuinely small improvements to maintain credibility, avoiding overstatement. Consider using alternative phrases such as "slightly improved", "somewhat superior" or "a bit better".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Slightly improved

Focuses on the action of improving, emphasizing the change from a previous state.

Somewhat superior

Highlights a degree of advantage or higher quality, often in a comparative context.

Marginally enhanced

Emphasizes a small or barely noticeable degree of enhancement or upgrade.

A bit better

A more informal and conversational way to express a slight improvement.

Noticeably improved

Emphasizes that the improvement is perceptible or recognizable.

Moderately better

Suggests a more significant improvement than "mildly better" but still not a drastic change.

Subtly enhanced

Indicates an improvement that is delicate or understated.

Inches ahead

Conveys a slight advancement or progress, often in a competitive scenario.

Advantageously better

Indicates that the improvement leads to a positive effect or benefit.

Just a touch better

Highlights a very minimal and almost imperceptible enhancement.

FAQs

How can I use "mildly better" in a sentence?

You can use "mildly better" to describe a slight improvement, such as "The updated version of the software is "mildly better" than the previous one."

What are some alternatives to saying "mildly better"?

Some alternatives include "slightly improved", "somewhat superior", or "a bit better", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "mildly better" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "mildly better" might be considered informal for some formal contexts. Alternatives like "somewhat superior" or "marginally enhanced" may be more suitable.

What's the difference between "mildly better" and "much better"?

"Mildly better" indicates a small degree of improvement, while "much better" suggests a significant or substantial improvement. The choice depends on the magnitude of the difference you want to convey.