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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
pursuing to improve
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "pursuing to improve" is not correct in standard written English.
A more appropriate expression would be "pursuing improvement" or "striving to improve." Example: "The team is focused on pursuing improvement in their processes to enhance efficiency."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Science
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
2 human-written examples
What strategy is Ms. Keay pursuing to improve the reindeer population numbers?
News & Media
"If the company is not able to timely, successfully or efficiently implement the strategies that the company is pursuing to improve its operating performance and financial position, obtain alternative sources of capital or otherwise meet its liquidity needs, the company may need to voluntarily seek protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code," American Apparel disclosed in its filing.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
58 human-written examples
Other initiatives were being pursued to improve diversity on the bench, he said, including recruiting senior partners from law firms who retire in their early fifties.
News & Media
Novel hybrid transition metal phosphides with elaborate designed architectures are long pursued to improve their lithium-ion storage properties.
Science
This new approach is better than the previous ones and must be pursued to improve this analytical consideration taking wrapping effect.
Science
As silver exhibits larger plasmonic efficiency than gold, fabrication of Ag nanorods has been pursued to improve the enhancing SERS capabilities.
Science
Assume a rational farmer who pursues to improve agricultural productions over a specific time and must choose among a set of 'j' adaptation options.
The main outcome of the research is the beneficial influence of barite, the compositional range that is important to target, the possible routes to be pursued, to improve the results achieved so far.
Science
Motivated by ever-changing consumer preferences and the belief that the 'best' wine is yet to be made, numerous approaches are being pursued to improve the process of yeast fermentation and the quality of wine.
This review seeks to summarize the current body of growing literature where biomaterial injection, with and without concurrent pharmaceutical or cellular delivery, has been pursued to improve functional outcomes following MI.
Science
Polymer ultrafiltration membranes with high water flux have long been pursued to improve filtration efficiency and reduce costs of industrial separation processes such as water treatment and food processing.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When describing efforts to enhance something, choose verbs that accurately reflect the nature of the improvement, such as "refine", "enhance", or "advance".
Common error
Do not use "to" directly after "pursuing" when intending to express the purpose of improvement. The correct usage typically involves a gerund (e.g., "pursuing improvement") or an infinitive phrase with a different verb (e.g., "pursuing strategies to improve").
Source & Trust
77%
Authority and reliability
2.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "pursuing to improve" attempts to connect an action (pursuing) with its intended outcome (improve). However, it is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI explains, a more suitable expression would be "pursuing improvement" or "striving to improve".
Frequent in
Science
50%
News & Media
50%
Formal & Business
0%
Less common in
Academia
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "pursuing to improve" is considered grammatically incorrect. While the intent is clear—to convey the action of actively working towards enhancement—standard English prefers alternatives such as "pursuing improvement" or "striving to improve". Ludwig AI highlights the grammatical error, but the example sentences from news and scientific domains underscore the phrase's attempted usage. To maintain clarity and professionalism, it's advisable to opt for grammatically sound alternatives. Remember, you can also express the same idea using "seeking to enhance" or "aiming to better".
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
striving for improvement
Uses "striving" instead of "pursuing" and turns "improve" into the noun "improvement", creating a more concise phrase.
seeking to enhance
Replaces "pursuing" with "seeking" and "improve" with "enhance" for a slightly more formal tone.
aiming to enhance
Substitutes "pursuing" with "aiming" and "improve" with "enhance", offering a similar meaning with a slightly different emphasis.
working towards betterment
Emphasizes the effort involved in the process of improving, using "betterment" as a more general term.
focused on developing
Emphasizes the growth and expansion aspect of improvement, often related to skills or capabilities.
dedicated to refining
Focuses on the continuous nature of improvement, suggesting a process of making something finer.
committed to advancing
Highlights dedication and forward movement, often used in organizational or strategic contexts.
targeting advancement
Positions advancement as a specific goal, using "targeting" to denote a strategic approach.
endeavoring to ameliorate
Presents a more formal and sophisticated alternative, replacing common words with their less frequent synonyms.
intent on perfecting
Suggests a strong desire for flawlessness and achieving the highest standard.
FAQs
What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "pursuing to improve"?
Instead of "pursuing to improve", use phrases like "pursuing improvement" or "striving to improve", which are grammatically correct and widely accepted.
How can I use "pursue" and "improve" correctly in the same sentence?
You can correctly use "pursue" and "improve" together by saying "pursuing strategies "to improve"" something, indicating that you are taking action to make something better.
Is "pursuing for improvement" a valid alternative to "pursuing to improve"?
No, "pursuing for improvement" is not standard English. The correct form is "pursuing improvement", where "improvement" acts as the direct object of "pursuing".
What's the difference between "pursuing improvement" and "seeking to improve"?
"Pursuing improvement" is a concise way to describe the act of working towards betterment. "Seeking to improve" emphasizes the active search for ways to enhance something. Both are grammatically correct, but their nuance differs slightly.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
77%
Authority and reliability
2.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested