very better

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'very better' is not correct or usable in written English.
You could rephrase it as "much better" or "significantly better". For example, "I feel much better today than I did yesterday."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

I am feeling very, very better now.

The Guardian

A viewer called Stephano23 noted: "Congratulations was very better".

The Guardian - Music

Test results show that, GTM method gives lower void and lower bitumen aggregate ratio than other two methods, it have very better water stability and high-temperature stability.

Procedia Engineering

As it is clear, deviations between ANN results and experimental data are lower than 0.67% that it is very better than 2.68% for Perry's equation.

International Journal of Industrial Chemistry

"If someone is older than you, like your mum or your older sister, if they are around you and they are talking with you, and they are talking about their own experience with you, then you are feeling very better.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Living in Australia for 5 years) "If someone is older than you, like your mum or your older sister, if they are around you and they are talking with you, and they are talking about their own experience with you, then you are feeling very better.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Treatment response will be indicated by a rating of 1 (completely recovered), 2 (very much better) or 3 (much better).

BMJ Open

"We are all getting on very well, better than ever in 20 years, even better after the attacks [of 2008].

The Guardian

Later travel writing is very much better.

The Guardian - Books

With the regular exercise I feel very much better.

Harvard University

2016-17 The changes will leave her very slightly better off.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "very better" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "much better" or "significantly better" to ensure clarity and credibility.

Common error

Do not combine "very" directly with a comparative adjective. "Very" typically modifies positive adjectives (e.g., "very good"). Use "much" or "significantly" to modify comparative adjectives like 'better'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very better" functions as an incorrect attempt to intensify the comparative adjective 'better'. Standard English grammar requires using adverbs like 'much' or 'significantly' to modify comparative adjectives. As Ludwig AI explains, "very better" is not considered correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

50%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "very better" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal English. While there are a few examples of its use across various sources, as shown by Ludwig, standard grammar dictates using "much better" or "significantly better" instead. The intended purpose is to express a strong degree of improvement, but the incorrect grammar undermines its effectiveness. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's best to opt for grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity and credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

much better

Replaces "very" with "much" to form a grammatically correct comparative.

significantly better

Emphasizes the degree of improvement more strongly than "very better" could, while being grammatically sound.

considerably better

Similar to "significantly better", highlighting a noticeable improvement.

noticeably better

Focuses on the fact that the improvement is easy to see or recognize.

markedly better

Indicates that the improvement is clearly evident or distinct.

appreciably better

Suggests that the improvement is large enough to be important or worth noticing.

vastly superior

Implies a much greater level of improvement, emphasizing that the alternative is far better.

decidedly better

Indicates a clear and definite improvement.

improved greatly

Uses a verb phrase to express that something has improved to a significant degree.

substantially improved

Highlights the significant extent to which something has become better.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "very better"?

The grammatically correct alternatives to "very better" are "much better" or "significantly better". Using "very" with a comparative adjective is generally considered incorrect.

When should I use "much better" instead of "very better"?

Always use "much better". "Very better" is not standard English. "Much" correctly modifies the comparative adjective 'better', indicating a greater degree of improvement.

Is "very good" the same as "very better"?

No, "very good" is grammatically correct because "good" is a positive adjective. "Very better" is incorrect because "better" is a comparative adjective. Use "much" or "significantly" to modify comparative adjectives.

Can I use "very" with other comparative adjectives?

Generally, it's not correct to use "very" with comparative adjectives. Instead, use adverbs like "much", "far", or "significantly" to modify comparative adjectives. For example, "much faster" or "significantly larger" are appropriate.