piecemeal improvement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "piecemeal improvement" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe gradual or incremental enhancements made over time rather than all at once. Example: "The company has adopted a strategy of piecemeal improvement, focusing on small changes that collectively lead to significant progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The piecemeal improvement in physical conditions in the colonias is welcome but it does not alleviate the other burdens of poverty, particularly for the undocumented.

The Guardian

Given a target system to be modeled, and invoking the faithful model assumption, there are two basic approaches to model confirmation discussed in the philosophical literature on modeling following a strategy known as piecemeal improvement (I will ignore bootstrapping approaches as they suffer similar problems, but only complicate the discussion).

SEP

But even piecemeal improvement might make it possible for new businesses (the missing element in this recovery) to jumpstart hiring.

Huffington Post

Piecemeal improvement may be normal in open source development, but Wikipedia aside, it is still rare in other fields.

F1000Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

But often having an ideal vision is the best overall guide to even piecemeal improvements.

The New York Times

For many of the piecemeal improvements, Thorn goes to some lengths to straighten out the record and give credit where credit is due.

The New York Times

The study, conducted by Sir Rod Eddington, a former boss of British Airways, called in 2006 for piecemeal improvements to deal with Britain's chronic transport congestion.

The Economist

The group made a variety of proposals, the most far-reaching of which may have been to overhaul and integrate the commission's rules into a single, coherent structure melding the piecemeal improvements made over the years.

The New York Times

So, if philosophy is thought of as the search for such extra-political truths, it has little bearing on politics, which, according to Zabala, is a matter of piecemeal improvements to a society, achieved by persuasion rather than force, that answer not to any extra-political truth but only to what members of that community can be persuaded to believe counts as an improvement.

The New York Times

No matter how faithful the model, no guarantee of piecemeal monotonic improvement of a nonlinear model's behavior with respect to the target system can be made (of course, if one waits for long enough times piecemeal confirmation strategies will also fail for linear systems).

SEP

The process of buying and improving the land piecemeal was criticized because each improvement raised the value of the existing land that still needed to be purchased.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "piecemeal improvement" to describe situations where progress is made through small, incremental steps rather than large, sweeping changes. This is particularly effective when discussing complex systems or processes.

Common error

Avoid using "piecemeal improvement" when expecting immediate or radical transformations. This phrase emphasizes a gradual process, so it's unsuitable for scenarios requiring quick fixes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "piecemeal improvement" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject or object in a sentence. Ludwig examples show it describing a method of gradual development or change. It is used to describe a gradual or incremental enhancement made over time rather than all at once.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "piecemeal improvement" is a noun phrase describing gradual progress made through small, incremental steps. Ludwig's analysis reveals that it is grammatically correct and commonly used in news, science, and encyclopedic contexts. While not extremely frequent, the phrase is well-understood and suitable for describing situations where changes occur gradually. As per Ludwig AI, it is also used to describe a gradual or incremental enhancement made over time rather than all at once. Remember to use it when you want to emphasize the incremental nature of change and avoid it when expecting immediate or radical transformations. Alternatives like "gradual enhancement" or "incremental advancement" can be used to convey a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

piecemeal advancement

Is very similar, but replaces "improvement" with "advancement".

gradual enhancement

Focuses on the process of enhancing something slowly over time.

incremental advancement

Highlights the step-by-step nature of the progress.

step-by-step development

Emphasizes the sequential and methodical approach to growth.

progressive refinement

Suggests a process of continuous improvement and polishing.

phased implementation

Specifically refers to implementing changes in stages.

bit-by-bit progress

Conveys a sense of slow, steady advancement in small increments.

patchwork betterment

Implies improvements made in a disjointed or uneven manner.

gradual amelioration

Focuses on the slow process of making something better.

stage-wise advancement

Highlights the advancement occurring in distinct stages.

FAQs

How does "piecemeal improvement" differ from a complete overhaul?

"Piecemeal improvement" suggests making small, incremental changes over time, whereas a complete overhaul involves a comprehensive and often radical transformation. One is gradual, the other is immediate.

What's an alternative to "piecemeal improvement" that still implies gradual change?

You can use alternatives like "gradual enhancement" or "incremental advancement" to convey a similar meaning of slow and steady progress.

When is it appropriate to use "piecemeal improvement" in a sentence?

Use "piecemeal improvement" when you want to emphasize that progress is being made in small steps and not all at once. For example, "The project is undergoing piecemeal improvement as we address each issue individually."

Is "piecemeal improvement" always a positive thing?

While improvement is generally positive, a "piecemeal improvement" approach can be criticized if a more comprehensive or holistic solution is needed. It may also indicate a lack of strategic planning.