show an improvement

USAGE SUMMARY

"show an improvement" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to an increase in quality or progress. For example: "The students have worked hard to show an improvement in their test scores."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

UK productivity may even show an improvement.

The Guardian - Opinion

These periods show an improvement in pottery making.

Britannica

The second half should show an improvement but largely on the back of weak comparatives.

The Guardian - Business

This syndrome should show an improvement in symptoms when following a gluten-free diet.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Figures on Thursday also show an improvement in house prices, a hopeful economic indicator for Obama.

The Guardian

"Overall this should show an improvement in water quality," Mr. Sturcken said.

The New York Times

But the second half performance was expected to show an improvement on the first six months.

The Guardian - Business

Even well-established drugs like Prozac fail to show an improvement over placebos in nearly half of all tests.

The New York Times

Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry in methanol show an improvement in catalytic activity for the Pt-WO3 catalysts.

Stanford University

Initial results in LEEM show an improvement in resolution to ∼2 nm.

Ultramicroscopy

The results show an improvement independent of obstacle position and terrain angle when using active bogies.

Journal of Terramechanics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "show an improvement", ensure the context clearly defines what is being improved and how the improvement is measured. For instance, specify "show an improvement in test scores" or "show an improvement in customer satisfaction".

Common error

Avoid using "show an improvement" with plural subjects. Instead of saying "The data show an improvement", use "The data shows an improvement" because data is considered a singular term in this context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "show an improvement" functions as a verb phrase indicating that something exhibits or demonstrates positive progress or betterment. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. Examples from Ludwig highlight its use in various contexts, such as improvements in water quality, house prices, and test scores.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

2%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "show an improvement" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something is exhibiting positive progress or betterment. As Ludwig AI states, it's usable in written English to refer to an increase in quality or progress. With a wide range of applications from scientific studies to news reports, this phrase is versatile and easily understood. It is important to clearly define the context of the improvement. While highly versatile, alternative phrases like "demonstrate progress" or "exhibit enhancement" can provide more nuanced or formal expressions. Be mindful of subject-verb agreement and maintain clarity in defining the area of improvement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

demonstrate progress

Replaces "show" with "demonstrate", emphasizing the act of proving or making progress clear.

reflect advancement

Focuses on the idea of moving forward or making strides.

reveal positive development

Emphasizes the unfolding or evolution of a positive outcome.

exhibit enhancement

Uses more formal vocabulary like "exhibit" and "enhancement", suitable for academic or professional contexts.

display betterment

Similar to "exhibit enhancement" but uses "betterment", indicating a general positive change.

present a positive trend

Highlights the ongoing nature of the improvement.

evidence a step forward

Highlights the idea of advancement, suggesting clear progress.

indicate a positive change

A more descriptive alternative, specifying the direction of the change.

register gains

Implies a measurable or quantifiable increase.

signal an upturn

Suggests a reversal of a negative trend, indicating positive movement.

FAQs

How can I use "show an improvement" in a sentence?

You can use "show an improvement" to describe a positive change or progress in a specific area. For example, "The new training program helped the employees "show an improvement" in their performance".

What are some alternatives to "show an improvement"?

Alternatives to "show an improvement" include "demonstrate progress", "exhibit enhancement", or "reflect advancement", depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "show an improvement" or "demonstrate an improvement"?

Both "show an improvement" and "demonstrate an improvement" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice depends on the desired level of formality and emphasis. "Demonstrate" often suggests a more conclusive or provable improvement.

What does it mean when data "show an improvement"?

When data "show an improvement", it means that the data indicates a positive change or progress in the area being measured. This could be an increase in efficiency, a decrease in errors, or any other positive trend.