serve to improve

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "serve to improve" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is intended to make a situation better. For example, "The new program was designed to serve to improve patient care at the hospital."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

A constructive referee report can serve to improve the quality of a rejected manuscript.

Nature

Ms. Kryshtanovskaya said she believed that the divorce would serve to improve his image.

The New York Times

The findings serve to improve the safety design and operational management of TWA.

Safety Science

Hewitt overcame early problems with his serve to improve his record against Ferrero, the French Open champion, to 5-3.

The New York Times - Sports

Thus, introducing the RuI bond into initial catalysts does not serve to improve catalyst design.

Journal of Catalysis

"Too often we are seeing unnecessary regulatory burdens that do not serve to improve actual aircraft safety.

The Washington Post

In fishes, the ribs primarily serve to improve the leverage of the myomeres in producing the undulatory movements of swimming.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Your time, effort, and findings are greatly appreciated and will likely serve to improve exergaming as a whole.

Harvard University

In addition to weekly readings, oral presentations and written essays serve to improve fluency in all aspects of Hungarian.

Columbia University

Making this process explicit, with guidelines to assess the strength of the available evidence, will serve to improve patient care.

Injury

The results of this work can thus serve to improve design and control of solar reactors for light hydrocarbons.

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "serve to improve", ensure that the subject clearly indicates what is providing the improvement, and the object specifies what is being improved. For instance, "These measures serve to improve patient outcomes."

Common error

Avoid using "serve to improve" in overly convoluted sentences where simpler phrasing would enhance clarity. Overusing this phrase can make your writing sound verbose. Be aware of simpler alternative. Instead of saying "The newly implemented protocols, which were designed with meticulous attention to detail and thorough consideration of all possible contingencies, serve to improve the overall efficiency of the department's operations", consider "The new protocols improve departmental efficiency".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "serve to improve" functions as a purpose connector, indicating the intended benefit or effect of an action or measure. As Ludwig AI confirms, it correctly frames the purpose of something being done to achieve a positive outcome. Examples show it describing efforts that "serve to improve" various outcomes across multiple areas.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

64%

News & Media

22%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Academia

5%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "serve to improve" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe something that is intended to make a situation better. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a versatile purpose connector, prevalent in formal writing and less so in casual conversation. It is most frequently found in scientific and news contexts. When writing, ensure the subject and object are clearly defined and avoid overuse in overly complex sentences. Alternatives like "help to enhance" or "contribute to betterment" can provide variety. Whether it's in academic papers, news articles, or formal business communication, "serve to improve" effectively conveys the intention of positive impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

help to enhance

Replaces "serve" with "help" and "improve" with "enhance", focusing on the facilitation of improvement.

play a role in improving

Highlights the part that something has in the process of improving something else.

contribute to betterment

Uses "contribute" to highlight the act of adding to something positive and "betterment" as a noun form of improvement.

be designed to enhance

Emphasizes the intended purpose of enhancing something else.

be instrumental in enhancing

Emphasizes a crucial role in the process of enhancing something.

have a positive impact on enhancing

Highlights a characteristic of something that contributes positively on enhancing something else.

work to ameliorate

Employs "work" to imply effort and "ameliorate" to suggest making something bad better.

is conducive to enhancing

Shows the characteristic of something that contributes to enhancing something else.

aim to refine

Focuses on precision and enhancement through "refine", indicating a more delicate form of improvement.

seek to optimize

Highlights the goal of achieving the best possible outcome, suggesting efficiency and effectiveness.

FAQs

How can I use "serve to improve" in a sentence?

Use "serve to improve" to indicate that something has the function of making something else better. For example, "The new regulations "serve to improve" safety standards".

What are some alternatives to "serve to improve"?

Alternatives include "help to enhance", "contribute to betterment", or "work to ameliorate", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it more formal to say "serve to improve" or "helps to improve"?

"Serve to improve" tends to be slightly more formal than "helps to improve". While both are grammatically correct, "serve to improve" is often preferred in academic or professional writing. If you want a more formal nuance you could also try to say "be designed to enhance".

Can "serve to improve" be used in all contexts?

While generally applicable, "serve to improve" might sound stilted in very informal contexts. Consider the audience and the overall tone of your writing. A more casual phrase might be more appropriate in informal settings, such as "help to improve".