overhauls

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overhauls" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to significant changes or renovations made to a system, process, or object to improve its performance or functionality. Example: "The company announced that it will implement overhauls to its outdated software to enhance user experience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

IT overhauls, legal complexities and new debit cards for the customers all add up.

The Guardian - Business

The talk is of tinkering with feed-in tariffs, fiddling with corporate exemptions and encouraging the states to speed up the expansion of the grid.The strategically minded are pushing for more fundamental overhauls.

The Economist

Both Ford and Chrysler, GM's two big American rivals, have installed outsiders to lead dramatic overhauls.

The Economist

They are not quite so adamantly opposed to entitlement reform, in other words, as most Republicans are to tax increases.It helps that Republicans such as Paul Ryan, a congressman and former vice-presidential candidate beloved by spending hawks, have proposed such radical overhauls that the sorts of reforms Mr Obama discussed last year look like mere tinkering around the edges.

The Economist

Maybe people have a harder time noticing and appreciating overhauls of rail tunnels because they are literally underground.

The Economist

Bankers had hoped that, after seven years of penance for their part in the financial crisis, the end of wrenching overhauls forced by fierce new regulations might be nigh.

The Economist

Yes, there are legal and technical obstacles; but, at the local level, a few states, including Georgia, California and, thank God, Florida, are engaged in serious overhauls of their voting systems (Ms Harris is introducing machines that may not be perfect but are still improvements).

The Economist

There is a powerful case for a grand bargain that overhauls the tax system, Social Security and Medicare all at once.

The Economist

Since that hope is likely to be forlorn, more vigorous overhauls will be needed at the most sprawling outfits such as Deutsche Bank and Citigroup.

The Economist

The necessary overhauls of systems and procedures and the extra digging around to identify American clients could add $100m or more to a large bank's administrative costs.

The Economist

On November 10th Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson, co-chairmen of Barack Obama's deficit commission, proposed sweeping tax reforms and spending overhauls to cut the deficit to 2.2% and stabilise the debt at 69% of GDP by 2015.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "overhauls" when referring to significant and comprehensive changes or renovations, especially when aiming to improve performance or functionality. For instance, "The system requires significant overhauls to meet current demands."

Common error

Avoid using "overhauls" for minor adjustments or superficial changes. The term implies a deep and extensive transformation, not just a quick fix. Instead, consider using words like "adjustments", "tweaks", or "minor repairs" for less significant alterations.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "overhauls" is as a plural noun. It refers to multiple instances of a thorough or comprehensive renovation or repair, often implying a significant improvement or change. As Ludwig confirms, the term is used correctly and is usable in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Encyclopedias

19%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

4%

Academia

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "overhauls", as confirmed by Ludwig, functions primarily as a plural noun referring to comprehensive renovations or repairs. Its usage spans across diverse contexts, with a strong presence in news and media, encyclopedias, and formal business settings. This suggests its widespread applicability in describing significant transformations or improvements across various systems or processes. Understanding the scope of "overhauls" is crucial to avoid misapplication in less significant scenarios; alternatives like "adjustments" or "tweaks" may be more fitting for minor modifications. The contexts where this word is frequently used, together with the wide spectrum of authoritative sources that Ludwig provides, makes the term "overhauls" a well-established term in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

major renovations

Focuses specifically on the physical aspect of renovation, implying structural changes.

complete revisions

Highlights the act of reviewing and amending something thoroughly.

extensive reforms

Implies improvements or changes, typically in a system or institution.

radical transformations

Suggests a fundamental shift or alteration in nature or form.

thorough restructurings

Emphasizes reorganizing something in a new and often better way.

comprehensive modernizations

Highlights the act of making something more modern or up-to-date.

significant improvements

Focuses on the positive changes and enhancements made.

systematic revisions

Implies a methodical and organized approach to making changes.

major updates

Suggests bringing something up to a more current standard.

extensive repairs

Highlights the restoring of something damaged or deteriorated to a good condition.

FAQs

How do I use "overhauls" in a sentence?

You can use "overhauls" to describe significant renovations or changes to a system, process, or object. For example: "The company is planning major overhauls of its outdated infrastructure."

What can I say instead of "overhauls"?

You can use alternatives like "major renovations", "complete revisions", or "extensive reforms" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "overhauls" or "overhall"?

"Overhauls" is the correct plural form of "overhaul", referring to multiple instances of significant renovations. "Overhall" is not a standard English word.

What's the difference between "overhauls" and "upgrades"?

"Overhauls" implies a more comprehensive and fundamental transformation, potentially involving complete disassembly and reassembly, while "upgrades" typically refers to adding new features or components to an existing system without altering its basic structure. So upgrades can be included into overhauls.