sped them up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sped them up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of increasing the speed or efficiency of something, such as a process or task. Example: "To meet the deadline, we implemented new strategies that sped them up significantly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

So that the tamarins could hear the compositions on their own terms, he sped them up three octaves.

The New York Times

The song Walking With Elephants took Gotham's octave-jumping burps of rubber sound, sped them up, turned them into a hook, and played it all on jaunty tubas: et voila!

The Guardian - Music

"I sat there and listened for those that were most percussive, or had a bit of rhythm in their ripple, and I cut them up and played with them and sped them up, and created this whole tap-dance-style rhythm break".

The New Yorker

"Not only have we extended our much-loved onboarding suggestions to work for Facebook and Google Reader, we've also sped them up by several orders of magnitude, so they're usually ready by the time a user is done selecting a username and password.

TechCrunch

"And then he sped them up with the cutter or the fastball.

Los Angeles Times

Simple says it won't charge for transfers, even though it has now sped them up.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"Cancer, it speeds them up!

The Guardian - Music

Is there any way we can speed them up?

The New York Times

They've had to speed them up a bit".

The Guardian - Books

But, boy, what he does with them -- speeding them up, slowing them down, layering them.

The New York Times

The Stuxnet attack was designed to speed them up, and make them explode.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sped them up" when you want to emphasize the increase in speed or efficiency of a specific process or action. This phrasal verb is most appropriate in informal or neutral contexts.

Common error

While "sped them up" is perfectly acceptable in many situations, it might sound too casual in formal or academic writing. Consider using a more formal alternative like "accelerated them" or "increased their speed" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sped them up" functions as a transitive phrasal verb. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its role in indicating an action that increases the rate or velocity of something. It is used to describe the act of making something faster or more efficient.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "sped them up" is a grammatically sound and relatively infrequent way to describe the action of accelerating something. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts, particularly within news and media sources. While acceptable, it may not be the most appropriate choice for highly formal writing, where alternatives like "accelerated them" or "increased their speed" might be more suitable. When deciding to use the phrase, ensure that "them" has a clear antecedent in the sentence to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accelerated them

Replaces "sped" with a more formal synonym, "accelerated".

made them faster

Uses a simpler and more direct construction.

increased their speed

Nominalizes the verb, focusing on the speed as a noun.

quickened them

Replaces "sped" with a less common synonym, "quickened".

boosted their pace

Uses "boosted" to emphasize an increase in activity level or rate.

enhanced their velocity

Employs a more technical term, "velocity", for speed.

expedited them

Suggests a focus on streamlining and making something happen sooner.

advanced them rapidly

Highlights the rapid nature of the increase in speed.

stepped them up

Emphasizes a gradual increase in speed or intensity.

hastened their progress

Shifts focus to the progress being made faster, rather than just speed.

FAQs

What does "sped them up" mean?

The phrase "sped them up" means to increase the speed or rate at which something is happening. It's a phrasal verb often used to describe making a process or activity faster.

How can I use "sped them up" in a sentence?

You might say, "The new software "sped them up", allowing us to finish the project ahead of schedule" or "To help the plants grow faster, we "sped them up" with fertilizer."

What are some alternatives to "sped them up"?

Alternatives include "accelerated them", "made them faster", or "increased their speed". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it better to say "sped up the process" or "sped them up"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "sped up the process" is generally clearer when referring to a specific process. "Sped them up" is appropriate when "them" clearly refers to previously mentioned items or actions. Consider saying "sped up the process" for greater clarity.