needs significant improvement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "needs significant improvement" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when evaluating something that requires a lot of enhancement or betterment, such as a project, performance, or skill. Example: "The report submitted by the team needs significant improvement before it can be presented to the stakeholders."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

While I agree with you that "the American election system needs significant improvement," it is important that we not mislead the electorate into thinking that installing paper trails on the electronic voting machines will fix the problem.

The New York Times

But even in that reading, the authority articulated today still needs significant improvement to bring it in line with past practice of the US military and America's obligations under international law.

The Guardian - Opinion

That is the view of former United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich, who feels that the squad needs significant improvement if they are to have a say in the second half of the season.

Independent

In the southern hemisphere, the model prediction shows quite well consistence with the observation during all three seasons while the huge difference between observations and model estimation implies that the IRI-2007 model needs significant improvement to predict better the trough region in northern hemisphere.

Advances in Space Research

More precisely, its discharge behavior during electrochemical cycling needs significant improvement.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Unfortunately, the country's health care system still needs significant improvement before it meets basic and higher-level health care needs.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

I do this partly to assess if the poems are any good so I turn this nervous process, of possible rejection, to my advantage; if a poem receives a couple of rejections I usually decide it needs significant improvements.

The Guardian - Books

But the law needs significant improvements.

Forbes

However, when to change frequency and under what circumstances, needs significant improvements.

Complex Adaptive Systems Modeling

The quality of initial rider training in EU countries is currently called into question and needs significant improvements [6, 7].

European Transport Research Review

Mainly, that at the end of the lease term the landlord may have an empty fitness club or warehouse on his hands that needs significant improvements before it can be leased again.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use stronger verbs to enhance the sentence's impact. Instead of using "needs significant improvement", you can use "demands radical transformation".

Common error

Avoid stating that something "needs significant improvement" without specifying what needs to be improved. Vague statements are unactionable. Clarify the areas that require attention to ensure effective action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "needs significant improvement" functions as a descriptor, indicating that a particular subject requires considerable enhancement or betterment. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "needs significant improvement" is a valid and useful expression to indicate a requirement for substantial enhancement. It appears in a variety of contexts, from News & Media to Science, and Formal & Business settings. While grammatically correct and confirmed by Ludwig AI, using the phrase effectively involves specifying what needs improvement to avoid vagueness. Alternatives like "requires substantial enhancement" or "could benefit from major upgrades" can add nuance, but the core message remains consistent: something is not meeting expectations and requires considerable attention.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

requires substantial enhancement

Emphasizes the necessity of considerable augmentation.

could benefit from major upgrades

Highlights the potential advantages of large-scale improvements.

warrants considerable refinement

Focuses on the need for precision and detail in the improvements.

is far from satisfactory

Indicates a current state of unacceptability.

has substantial room for growth

Suggests potential for development and advancement.

demands considerable attention

Highlights the importance of focusing on improvements.

leaves much to be desired

Implies a significant gap between the current state and the desired state.

cries out for major revisions

Emphasizes an urgent need for significant changes.

is critically deficient

Indicates a severe lack of essential qualities.

is ripe for radical change

Suggests that the situation is ready for fundamental alterations.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "needs significant improvement" to sound more professional?

You could use phrases such as "requires substantial enhancement", "could benefit from major upgrades", or "warrants considerable refinement" to maintain a professional tone.

What are some common contexts where I might use the phrase "needs significant improvement"?

This phrase is frequently used when discussing areas such as product development, academic performance, healthcare systems, or any process that is underperforming. It indicates that substantial changes are necessary.

Is it better to say "needs significant improvement" or "needs significant improvements"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "needs significant improvement" is typically used when referring to an overall area. "Needs significant improvements" is suitable when you are referring to multiple specific areas that need enhancement.

How do I avoid being too critical when pointing out that something "needs significant improvement"?

Frame your feedback constructively by focusing on specific areas and providing suggestions for how to achieve the necessary improvements. It helps to balance criticism with positive and actionable recommendations.