to be improved upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to be improved upon" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that has the potential for enhancement or betterment. Example: "The current software version has several features that are to be improved upon in the next update."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

(Someone tweeted on Sunday night that Brooklyn didn't so much seem to be preparing for Sandy as cooking for it, a formulation not to be improved upon).

The New Yorker

The Historic Districts Council said 900 Fifth's "historic design does not need to be improved upon and should be preserved like that of any other landmarked building".

The New York Times

The definition offered by the German physician Samuel Hafenreffer in 1660 has yet to be improved upon: An unpleasant sensation that provokes the desire to scratch.

The New Yorker

Ensemble forecast systems, especially for smaller scale events, need to be improved upon since they often lack enough spread and tend to cluster around their parent model.

The Washington Post

The pursed, prurient lips, the porcine eyes, the projection of complete and utter shameless, self-serving fraudulence, the brilliant stroke of pronouncing "China" to conjure "vagina" — this was a Trump to be improved upon only by Trump himself.

The New Yorker

The limited options to control ND properties during synthesis or by direct surface functionalization leave room to be improved upon by employing surface coatings engineered precisely for a particular application.

Current Opinion in Solid State and Materials Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

We've covered a number of these custom shirt sites, most recently J Hilburn and all of them seem to be improving upon the age old custom tailoring model.

TechCrunch

Fried dough rolled in sugar (or dipped in chocolate, if you're doing things the Spanish way) is tough to be improve upon, but that subtle hit of spiciness cranks an already great dessert up to eleven.

HuffPost

Federal nutritional standards for school meals should be updated and the nutritional quality of USDA commodities provided to schools should be improved upon.

Cornell University

As further information becomes available, the list of beneficial choices, as well as choices to avoid, could be improved upon.

Environmental Health Perspectives

The overall evaluation was intended to provide a formative evaluation of what seemed to work well and what should be improved upon to enhance the NCCCP model.

Health Research Policy and Systems

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to be improved upon", clearly state what specific aspects need enhancement to provide context and direction for future efforts.

Common error

Avoid using "to be improved upon" without specifying what needs to be enhanced. For example, instead of saying "The system needs to be improved upon", specify "The system's user interface needs to be improved upon for better usability".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to be improved upon" functions as a passive construction with a prepositional phrase, indicating something requires enhancement or refinement. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. Examples show its usage in diverse contexts, from scientific research to general commentary.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

52%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to be improved upon" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that indicates the potential for betterment or refinement. Ludwig AI confirms its usage across a range of contexts, from scientific research to general commentary. The phrase is generally neutral to formal and can be enhanced with specific details to improve clarity. Remember to target specific aspects of a situation for improvement and use a more concise phrase to maximize effectiveness and impact. Numerous authoritative sources from Science, News & Media and Formal & Business showcase the broad appeal of this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to be enhanced

Focuses on enhancing or augmenting what already exists.

to be refined

Emphasizes the process of purification or making something more subtle and precise.

to be optimized

Highlights the goal of making something as effective or functional as possible.

to be upgraded

Implies a newer or better version is needed.

to be developed further

Suggests ongoing work and expansion.

to be perfected

Focuses on achieving a state of flawlessness.

to be revamped

Suggests a complete overhaul or redesign.

to be amended

Focuses on correcting or making changes to a formal document or system.

to be ameliorated

Emphasizes making something bad or unsatisfactory better.

to be iterated on

Highlights the cyclical process of improvement through repetition and refinement.

FAQs

How can I use "to be improved upon" in a sentence?

You can use "to be improved upon" to indicate that something has the potential for enhancement. For example, "This draft is a good start, but there are still areas "to be improved upon"".

What's a more concise way to say "to be improved upon"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "to be enhanced", "to be refined", or "to be optimized".

Is it always necessary to specify what aspects need improvement when using "to be improved upon"?

While not always mandatory, specifying the aspects that need improvement provides clarity and focus. Vague statements like "things need "to be improved upon"" can lack direction.

What is the difference between "to be improved upon" and "to be enhanced"?

"To be improved upon" generally suggests making something better overall, while "to be enhanced" implies adding features or increasing the quality of existing ones.