we did better

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we did better" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a group or team has improved their performance or results compared to a previous time or situation. Example: "After implementing the new strategies, we did better in the last quarter than we did in the previous one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We did better than that.

Independent

We did better a week later.

The New York Times - Food

We did better with ARNOLD SCAASI.

The New York Times

We did better with our sleeping quarters.

The Guardian - Travel

It is time we did better".

The New York Times

We did better than all the other teams," Mancini said.

The Guardian - Sport

We got killed yesterday and we did better today.

The New York Times - Sports

"We did better than you would have done in Paris," he replied.

The Guardian

And I think that's one of the reasons that we did better in the Senate.

The New York Times

Even in the lean years when I first got here, we did better than this".

The New York Times - Sports

From despair to hope, just because we did better than we thought we did.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "we did better", consider adding context to explain how or why the performance improved. For example: "We did better this quarter due to increased marketing efforts".

Common error

Ensure the comparison is clear. Instead of just saying "we did better", specify what you're comparing to, such as "we did better than last year" or "we did better than expected".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we did better" functions as a declarative statement indicating an improvement in performance or outcome. It asserts that a group ("we") achieved a more favorable result compared to a previous instance. Ludwig AI affirms this with numerous examples across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Formal & Business

7%

Science

3%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we did better" is a concise and common way to express improvement or progress. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and versatile, fitting various contexts from news reports to personal reflections. While suitable for most situations, it's best practice to provide context regarding what "we" refers to and how the improvement was achieved. Consider alternatives like "we performed better" or "our results were better" for more formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we performed better

Replaces "did" with a more formal verb "performed".

we achieved more

Focuses on the outcome of achieving a greater result.

we improved our performance

Highlights the act of improving the performance.

we progressed further

Emphasizes the advancement or progress made.

we made greater strides

Uses a more figurative expression for making progress.

our results were better

Shifts the focus to the results themselves being superior.

we fared better

Uses "fared" to indicate a more positive experience or outcome.

we had more success

Focuses on achieving a greater level of success.

we excelled

Indicates a high level of performance and achievement.

we outdid ourselves

Implies exceeding previous expectations or performance levels.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "we did better" to sound more formal?

In formal contexts, you can use phrases like "we achieved more", "we improved our performance", or "our results were better".

Is it always necessary to specify what "we" refers to when using "we did better"?

While not always mandatory, specifying who "we" refers to can enhance clarity, especially in contexts where the audience might not immediately know who is being discussed. For example, instead of "we did better", you could say "the marketing team did better".

How does "we did better" compare to "we did well"?

"We did well" indicates a generally positive outcome, whereas "we did better" implies an improvement over a previous performance. The latter is more specific about the progress made.

What are some common situations where "we did better" is appropriately used?

"We did better" is commonly used in business reports, sports analyses, academic assessments, and personal reflections to denote improvement or progress compared to a previous benchmark or performance.