to improve upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to improve upon" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing enhancements or advancements made to an existing idea, product, or process. Example: "The team worked hard to improve upon the original design, making it more efficient and user-friendly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

"I've been moving well, trying to improve upon that.

The New York Times - Sports

That is something I am trying to improve upon.

The New York Times - Sports

IT'S tough to improve upon a competently grilled steak.

The New York Times - Food

"When we're healthy, there's nowhere to improve upon," Cashman said.

The New York Times - Sports

I had something to work with, to improve upon.

The Guardian

His thinking is, why try to improve upon perfection?

The New York Times

Is there anything you want to improve upon?

Independent

The brasher angle, which attempts to improve upon the original, risks alienating the audience.

The Guardian - Tech

Stallone did, however, make a point to praise the Academy's efforts to improve upon the issue.

The Guardian - Film

I'm keen on patient surveys to give us something concrete to improve upon.

The Guardian

"That is one area that we as an industry need to improve upon going forward".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to improve upon", ensure that you're referring to a specific existing thing (idea, method, product) that is being enhanced. Avoid using it for completely new creations.

Common error

Avoid using "to improve upon" with abstract nouns that don't represent concrete, definable entities. Instead of saying "to improve upon happiness", which is vague, focus on tangible aspects you can enhance, like "to improve upon the user interface".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to improve upon" functions as an infinitive phrase, often used as part of a verb phrase to express the action of enhancing or refining something that already exists. It is commonly used in sentences where the goal is to make something better than its current state. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to improve upon" is a grammatically correct and commonly used infinitive phrase. It indicates the act of enhancing or refining something that already exists. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, especially in news, media, science, and formal business settings. When using this phrase, ensure you are referring to a tangible entity and not an abstract concept for clarity. Consider alternatives like "to enhance" or "to refine" for slight variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to enhance

Focuses on increasing the quality or value of something.

to refine

Implies making something more subtle and cultured.

to build on

Suggests using something as a foundation for further development.

to ameliorate

Indicates making something bad or unsatisfactory better.

to augment

Focuses on adding to something in order to improve it.

to perfect

Aims to make something as good as it can possibly be.

to upgrade

Suggests improving something by replacing it with a newer or better version.

to advance

Highlights the progress made in improving something.

to develop

Implies gradual growth and improvement.

to boost

Focuses on increasing the power or effectiveness of something.

FAQs

How can I use "to improve upon" in a sentence?

You can use "to improve upon" to indicate making something better than it currently is. For example, "The company aims to improve upon its existing product line with innovative features".

What are some alternatives to "to improve upon"?

You can use alternatives like "to enhance", "to refine", or "to build on" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "improve on" instead of "to improve upon"?

While "improve on" is sometimes used, "to improve upon" is generally considered more formal and grammatically precise, particularly in writing. However, both are understandable.

What's the difference between "to improve upon" and "to enhance"?

"To improve upon" suggests making something already existing better, while "to enhance" generally means to intensify or increase the quality of something. The former is more specific to refining something pre-existing.