Cool MateImprove vs Make things better
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Improve
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Make things better
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Improve
| Improve | Make things better | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪmˈpruːv/","/ɪmˈpruːvz/","/ɪmˈpruːvd/","/ɪmˈpruːvɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪmˈpruːv/","/ɪmˈpruːvz/","/ɪmˈpruːvd/","/ɪmˈpruːvɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //meɪk θɪŋz ˈbɛtə//🇺🇸 //meɪk θɪŋz ˈbɛtər// |
| Meaning | To make something better. | To improve something or make it good again. |
| Example | I want to improve my English speaking skills. | We need to find ways to make things better for our community. |
| 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 things better, make life better, make the situation better, make the world 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'. | Confusing 'make better' with 'do better'., Using it in negative contexts incorrectly., Omitting the object and saying just 'make better'. |
| 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 'make things better' when discussing improvements in various contexts, such as personal situations, relationships, or projects. It’s general enough to be used in formal and informal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Improve vs Make things better
What's the difference between Improve and Make things better?
Improve: To make something better. Make things better: To improve something or make it good again.
Which is more common: Improve and Make things better?
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 things better: We need to find ways to make things better for our community.
Can I use Improve and Make things better interchangeably?
Not always. Improve and Make things better 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.