refinement of existing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refinement of existing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing improvements or enhancements made to something that already exists, such as a process, product, or idea. Example: "The refinement of existing technologies is crucial for advancing our understanding of renewable energy sources."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Furthermore, refinement of existing shRNA design rules resulted in substantially improved prediction of powerful shRNAs.

Biomaterials

Our algebra thus formalizes an interface-based design methodology that supports both the incremental addition of new components and the independent stepwise refinement of existing components.

University of California, Berkeley

This will be achieved through novel prospective investigations to define new methodologies as well as refinement of existing tools.

European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

The package is more a refinement of existing laws, not an expansion, he said Thursday, and he is inclined to support them.

The New York Times

But a spokesman for Merrill Lynch played down the significance of the change, saying, "This merely represents a refinement of existing policies so that we are taking a more conservative position than we had before".

The New York Times

Due to the advent of new technology and the refinement of existing technologies, imaging's role has extended into the biological, functional, and hemodynamic diagnosis of multiple pathophysiologic processes.

Revista Española de Cardiología

Whenever new transmission capacity appears, said Dr. Douglass, whether because of new construction or because of refinement of existing calculations, consumers may benefit because the system can make better use of low-cost electricity supplies shipped over longer distances.

The New York Times

The interesting thing is that the evolution is no longer just technical refinement of existing games, but an expansion of what a game is and who it is for.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Conceptual change can encompass not only the replacement of certain elements but also the refinement and elaboration of existing knowledge structures (see Smith III et al. 1994; Vosniadou, 2008).

International Journal of STEM Education

And while major pharmaceutical companies claim an average of three new drugs a year, many of them are me-too's or minor refinements of existing therapies.

The New York Times

A review of the R&D portfolio at a senior management meeting revealed that most of the company's R&D expenditures were going to incremental refinements of existing products (demanded by marketing to stave off mounting short-term losses in share) and to process improvements (demanded by manufacturing to reduce costs, which was, in turn, demanded by finance to preserve margins as prices fell).

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "refinement of existing" when you want to emphasize the iterative nature of improvement processes.

Common error

Avoid using "refinement of existing" when simpler terms like "improvement" or "update" would suffice. Overuse can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refinement of existing" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the action of improving or perfecting something that already exists, as shown by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

18%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "refinement of existing" is a grammatically sound and commonly used noun phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig. It effectively conveys the idea of improving something already in place, particularly in formal contexts such as science, news, and business. While synonyms like "improvement of current" and "enhancement of existing" exist, "refinement of existing" often suggests a more subtle and precise improvement. When writing, it's essential to avoid overuse and ensure the phrase aligns with the desired tone and level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

improvement of current

Focuses on the action of improving something in its current state.

enhancement of existing

Emphasizes making something better or more valuable that already exists.

modification of existing

Highlights the alteration or change of something already in place.

optimization of existing

Focuses on making something as effective or functional as possible.

fine-tuning of existing

Implies small adjustments to achieve the best or most accurate performance.

adjustment of existing

Highlights the act of regulating or altering something to achieve a desired state.

amelioration of existing

Suggests making something better or more bearable that already exists.

perfection of existing

Emphasizes the achievement of flawlessness in something that already exists.

tuning of existing

Refers to the process of making fine adjustments to something, often a system or device, so that it works as well as it can.

upgrading of existing

Implies raising something to a higher standard, typically by adding new features or improvements.

FAQs

How can I use "refinement of existing" in a sentence?

You can use "refinement of existing" to describe the process of improving something that already exists. For example, "The project focuses on the "refinement of existing" algorithms to enhance accuracy."

What's the difference between ""refinement of existing"" and "improvement of existing"?

While both convey betterment, ""refinement of existing"" often suggests a more subtle and precise enhancement, whereas "improvement of existing" may imply a more substantial change.

What can I say instead of ""refinement of existing""?

You can use alternatives like "improvement of current", "enhancement of existing", or "modification of existing" depending on the context.

Is ""refinement of existing"" formal or informal?

"Refinement of existing" tends to be more formal and is often used in academic, scientific, and business contexts. Simpler terms like "improvement" are suitable for informal settings.