things better over time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "things better over time" is not correct as it is missing a verb.
You can use it in a context where you want to express that improvements occur gradually, but it needs to be rephrased for clarity. Example: "I believe that with patience, things will get better over time."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"We don't think about it as, 'How do we replace the thing people are using,'" said Page. "We think about 'How can we make things better.' Over time we will do more of that". Coming soon: Google's reworking of Writely, an online word processor it acquired with its purchase of Silicon Valley startup Upstartle.

MIT Technology Review

As time goes on and people want to do more and more with LAMP, it becomes more complicated, and our tools — we seek to make it easy for people to do something quickly, but also focus on making it easy for them to continue to enhance it and make things better over time.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

That is not a matter of PR, it is a matter of doing things better over a sustained period of time".

Independent

It has always been my club, so it's my responsibility to make things better, and over time we will".

Wikipedia

The baseline is just arbitrarily colorless, and then if things get better over time it's green.

Cornell University

"People say things get better over time, but for us it is like all this happened yesterday".

The Guardian

So an obvious implication is that their writers think, and think that most people think, that in general things get better over time.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Most things get better over time, but not in this case.

Los Angeles Times

Lifting a pair of shears, Erenthal started hacking away at the braid, and described how things got better over time.

Vice

Always remember, things get better over time.

WikiHow

Doug Chapin, director of Electionline.org, said "things are getting better over time". But he said many of the changes in recent years have led to new problems and disputes.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and grammatical correctness, rephrase "things better over time" to include a verb, such as "things get better over time" or "situations improve over time".

Common error

Avoid using "things better over time" in formal writing. Always include a verb to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity. For instance, instead of saying "things better over time", specify "things will improve over time".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "things better over time" acts as a nominal phrase, attempting to describe a process of improvement. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it lacks a crucial verb, rendering it grammatically incomplete. Examples from Ludwig show corrected versions where a verb is added, clarifying the intended meaning.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "things better over time" intends to convey a sense of hope and eventual improvement, Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically incorrect due to the absence of a verb. Its usage is mostly confined to informal contexts, although the underlying concept appears across various domains, including news, media, and personal blogs. To ensure clarity and correctness, especially in formal settings, it's recommended to use alternatives like "things get better over time" or "situations improve with time". Always prioritize grammatical accuracy, even when aiming for a conversational tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

things improve with time

This alternative uses a verb to show improvement.

progress over time

Focuses on the concept of progress instead of general "things".

conditions get better with time

Specifies "conditions" as the subject improving.

situations improve over time

Replaces "things" with "situations" for clarity.

circumstances improve as time passes

Emphasizes the passing of time as a factor in improvement.

matters improve with the passage of time

Uses a more formal tone with "matters" and "passage of time".

developments improve over the long term

Highlights the long-term nature of the improvement.

aspects get better as time goes on

Uses "aspects" to be more specific about what is improving.

the outlook improves over time

Refers to the "outlook" or perspective getting better.

the situation evolves positively over time

Focuses on positive evolution of a situation.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the phrase "things better over time"?

To use the phrase correctly, add a verb. For example, say "things get better over time" or "things will improve over time".

Is it grammatically correct to say "things better over time"?

No, "things better over time" is grammatically incorrect because it's missing a verb. A grammatically sound alternative is "things get better over time".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "things better over time"?

Alternatives include "things improve with time", "progress over time", or "conditions get better with time".

In what contexts is it appropriate to use "things better over time"?

While technically incorrect, "things better over time" might be found in informal speech or casual writing. However, for formal contexts such as academic papers or business reports, it's best to use a grammatically correct alternative like "things get better over time".