to make things better

USAGE SUMMARY

"to make things better" is a commonly used phrase in written English, and can be used in many contexts.
For example: "I will do my best to make things better for the people of this town."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It always seems to make things better.

The New York Times

We ask regulators to make things better.

The New York Times

We are complying to make things better.

The New York Times

Computers were supposed to make things better.

The New York Times

We need freedom to make things better".

The Guardian

We're always trying to make things better".

The New York Times

It's the attempt to make things better.

The Guardian - Books

Cellphones were supposed to make things better.

The New York Times

And we keep trying to make things better.

The New York Times

There are lot of opportunities to make things better".

Independent

Peter Hesse has an idea to make things better.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to make things better" when you want to express a general intention to improve a situation or condition. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Be mindful that while widely accepted it's a relatively generic phrase, so make sure it's not vague or lacks specifics in your sentence. Add context wherever possible.

Common error

Avoid using "to make things better" as a standalone justification without explaining how you plan to improve things. Instead of saying "I'm implementing this policy to make things better", specify the intended outcome: "I'm implementing this policy to improve employee morale and increase productivity".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "to make things better" is as an infinitive phrase acting as an adverbial of purpose. It modifies a verb, explaining the reason or goal behind an action, as seen in Ludwig AI. It states the intent behind an action or decision.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to make things better" is a commonly used infinitive phrase that functions as an adverbial of purpose, expressing an intention to improve a situation. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science. While versatile, it's essential to provide specifics on how things will be improved to avoid vagueness. Alternatives like "to improve matters" or "to ameliorate the situation" can add nuance depending on the desired level of formality. Overall, "to make things better" serves as a practical and readily understandable way to communicate a positive aim.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to improve matters

Replaces "things" with "matters", focusing on the overall situation.

to set things right

Implies correcting something that is wrong or unfair.

to ameliorate the situation

Uses a more formal vocabulary, replacing "make better" with "ameliorate".

to foster positive change

Highlights the promotion of change that leads to improvement.

to rectify the problem

Focuses on fixing a specific problem rather than general improvement.

to enhance the circumstances

Replaces "things" with "circumstances" and "make better" with "enhance", offering a slightly more sophisticated tone.

to advance progress

Emphasizes moving forward and making advancements.

to optimize conditions

Focuses on creating the best possible conditions for success or well-being.

to positively influence events

Shifts the focus to influencing events rather than a direct improvement.

to turn the tide

Idiomatic expression indicating a significant improvement or reversal of a negative trend.

FAQs

How can I use "to make things better" in a sentence?

You can use "to make things better" to express an intention to improve a situation. For example: "We are implementing these changes "to make things better" for our customers".

What are some alternatives to "to make things better"?

Alternatives include "to improve matters", "to ameliorate the situation", or "to set things right", depending on the context.

Is "to make things better" formal or informal?

"To make things better" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives like "to ameliorate the situation" may be preferred in certain settings.

What is the difference between "to make things better" and "to make things worse"?

"To make things better" indicates an intention to improve a situation, while "to make things worse" implies actions that will deteriorate a situation.