Cool MateImprove vs Make it look right
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Improve
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Make it look right
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Improve
| Improve | Make it look right | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪmˈpruːv/","/ɪmˈpruːvz/","/ɪmˈpruːvd/","/ɪmˈpruːvɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪmˈpruːv/","/ɪmˈpruːvz/","/ɪmˈpruːvd/","/ɪmˈpruːvɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //meɪk ɪt lʊk raɪt//🇺🇸 //meɪk ɪt lʊk raɪt// |
| Meaning | To make something better. | Make something appear correct or proper. |
| Example | I want to improve my English speaking skills. | You need to make it look right before the presentation. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | considerably, dramatically, drastically, continue to, strive to, try to, aimed at improving something, an attempt to improve something, an effort to improve something | make it look perfect, make it look easy, make it look professional, make it look nice, make it look better |
| Antonyms | deteriorate, worsen, decline | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'improve' with 'improvement' in sentence structure., Using 'improve' without an object (it needs something to improve)., Incorrectly stating 'improve of' instead of just 'improve'. | Using 'make' with a different subject - it should be 'make it'., Confusing it with 'make it right' - 'look right' refers to appearance. |
| Usage notes | Use 'improve' in both formal and informal contexts when talking about enhancing skills, performance, or situations. Avoid using it in overly casual or slangy conversations. | Use in situations where you want to improve appearance or quality. Suitable for both spoken and written contexts, but may feel informal. |
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Frequently asked questions: Improve vs Make it look right
What's the difference between Improve and Make it look right?
Improve: To make something better. Make it look right: Make something appear correct or proper.
Which is more common: Improve and Make it look right?
Improve is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Improve: I want to improve my English speaking skills. Make it look right: You need to make it look right before the presentation.
Can I use Improve and Make it look right interchangeably?
Not always. Improve and Make it look right are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.