smaller improvement to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "smaller improvement to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a minor enhancement or change made to something, typically in a context of evaluation or feedback. Example: "The team made a smaller improvement to the software that enhanced its performance slightly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

That beat expectations of a smaller improvement to -16.5 points.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

First-trimester uterine artery Doppler improved the detection rate of early preeclampsia to 81%, with smaller improvements to 45% and 35% for late preeclampsia and gestational hypertension, respectively.

Disease Markers

He added: "Hunting is a totemic issue and even a small improvement to the current situation would go a long way to persuading rural people that the government is in step with them".

The Guardian

Bing has just made a small improvement to travel search, adding the ability to add natural language queries to flight search.

TechCrunch

This increase makes optimization case 3 most preferable because any small improvement to the yield of products in FCC unit amounts to great profitability.

Applied Petrochemical Research

A small improvement to matching can be had by starting and ending the filter on a half-space instead of a full tooth or space.

Wikipedia

Boldrin and Levine pointed out that the Wright brothers simply made a small improvement to flight technology that already existed, kept it secret until they could get their ideas patented, then used the protection afforded by those patents to hold off competition and stifle aerospace innovation until their 20-year lifespan was up.

Vice

Jaescke et al. used the mean change score in people reporting a small improvement to determe the MIC.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Of these markers, IGFII showed a significant increase for DS pregnancies in the overall cohort (Table 2), and a small improvement to the prior risk model (Table 3).

Disease Markers

Instead, they expected his report to suggest many small improvements to boost existing capacity.

The Economist

It used to be that they could make small improvements to existing gadgets, then hawk the marginally better, but much pricier tools to doctors.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "smaller improvement to", quantify the improvement whenever possible. This adds clarity and provides context to the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "smaller improvement to" when the actual change is significant. Using it in such cases can mislead the reader about the extent of the progress.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "smaller improvement to" functions as a modifier + noun + prepositional phrase, describing the extent and direction of a change. Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

40%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "smaller improvement to" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for denoting a minor enhancement. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is clear and direct. While not frequently used, it appears in various contexts, including news, scientific articles, and general discussions. When employing this phrase, be sure to quantify the improvement to give context and avoid overstating the impact of the change. Alternatives such as "slight enhancement to" or "minor upgrade to" can be used to convey similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight enhancement to

This alternative suggests a minimal degree of improvement, similar to the original phrase but emphasizing the positive change.

minor upgrade to

Focuses on the aspect of upgrading, indicating a step forward, albeit a small one.

modest refinement of

This suggests a subtle improvement achieved through careful adjustments.

marginal gain in

This alternative emphasizes the smallness of the gain or benefit achieved.

limited advancement in

This expresses a restricted or constrained degree of progress.

incremental betterment of

Highlights a gradual and stepwise improvement process.

slight amelioration of

Indicates a mild reduction in negative aspects or a slight enhancement of positive ones.

small step forward in

Emphasizes movement in a positive direction, though the step is not large.

negligible progress in

This suggests the improvement is so small as to be almost unnoticeable.

token advancement of

Highlights the symbolic rather than substantial nature of the advancement.

FAQs

How can I use "smaller improvement to" in a sentence?

You can use "smaller improvement to" when you want to describe a slight enhancement or change made to something. For example: "The team made a "smaller improvement to" the software that enhanced its performance slightly."

What are some alternatives to "smaller improvement to"?

Some alternatives to "smaller improvement to" include "slight enhancement to", "minor upgrade to", or "modest refinement of".

When is it appropriate to use "smaller improvement to" instead of "significant improvement to"?

"Smaller improvement to" is appropriate when the change is minimal or incremental, while "significant improvement to" should be used when the change is substantial and has a noticeable impact.

Is "smaller improvement to" considered formal or informal language?

"Smaller improvement to" is considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, depending on the surrounding language and the overall tone of the writing.