to improve upon something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to improve upon something" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing ways to enhance or make something better than its current state. Example: "The team is working hard to improve upon the existing software to enhance user experience."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

There will always be something to improve upon or something else to add.

Vice

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

The Guardian

At the beginning of each year I ask my students to share what their aims for the year are, alongside something they thought went well last year and something they need to improve upon, (including those from year six into year seven).

The Guardian

We need to recognize that it's something we need to improve upon".

The New York Times

From second on the grid, the Briton had a poor start - which is something he needs to improve upon - but he was keeping up with the front-runners and I am sure he would have gone on to finish fourth had he not have crashed out.

BBC

I had something to work with, to improve upon.

The Guardian

That is something I am trying to improve upon.

The New York Times - Sports

"That is something we could look to improve upon because if they did, that batch of players could then go on to go to a World Cup together two years later".

BBC

Braungart explains pithily in his new introduction: "When you do something wrong, don't try to improve upon it".

The Guardian - Books

"That's something we are constantly trying to improve upon, the participation in our database, but we really have picked up in terms of the trainings we do," she told VICE.

Vice

The original version of Chronos was a little rough around the edges — something that the company has tried to improve upon with the new user interface, which is colorful with big, bold fonts.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to improve upon something" when you want to emphasize building on an existing foundation to make it better. For example, "The new model aims to improve upon the original design by adding enhanced features."

Common error

While grammatically correct, "to improve upon something" can sometimes sound redundant or less direct in formal writing. Consider using alternatives like "to enhance" or "to refine" for a more concise and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to improve upon something" functions as an infinitive phrase, often used as part of a verb phrase. Ludwig AI indicates its use is grammatically correct. It specifies the action of enhancing or building on an existing element.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to improve upon something" is a grammatically correct infinitive phrase used to describe the act of making something better by building on its current foundation. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, the absence of examples suggests a need for nuanced understanding of its contexts. Consider stronger alternatives like "to enhance" or "to refine" for conciseness, particularly in formal writing. Exploring the subtleties of this phrase will enhance your writing and allow for greater precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to enhance something

Focuses on making something better without necessarily building on it.

to build on something

Emphasizes adding to a foundation, rather than simply improving.

to refine something

Suggests a more delicate or precise form of improvement.

to develop something further

Highlights the idea of expansion and growth.

to perfect something

Implies reaching an ideal or flawless state.

to take something to the next level

A more informal way of saying to advance something.

to augment something

Suggests adding something to enhance it.

to elevate something

Implies raising something to a higher status or standard.

to advance something

Focuses on progress and moving forward.

to ameliorate something

Emphasizes making something better, especially something negative.

FAQs

How to use "to improve upon something" in a sentence?

You can use "to improve upon something" when you want to express the idea of making something better by building on its existing qualities. For example, "The company is striving "to improve upon" its customer service."

What can I say instead of "to improve upon something"?

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

Which is correct, "to improve upon something" or "to improve something"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different nuances. "To improve something" is a more general statement, while "to improve upon something" implies building on an existing foundation.

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

"To improve upon something" focuses on making something better, while "to expand upon something" focuses on increasing or elaborating on something.