Cool MateImprovement vs Remission
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Improvement
Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun
Remission
FormalTop 3,000 (common)
Most formal: RemissionMost common: Improvement
| Improvement | Remission | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪmˈpruːvmənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪmˈpruːvmənt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //rɪˈmɪʃ.ən//🇺🇸 //rɪˈmɪʃ.ən// |
| Meaning | Making something better or becoming better. | A period when a disease improves or disappears. |
| Example | There has been a significant improvement in her grades this semester. | After months of treatment, she finally achieved remission. |
| Register | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | big, considerable, enormous, be, constitute, reflect, occur, take place, result from something, initiative, plan, programme/program, improvement in, improvement on, improvement over, an area for improvement, an area of improvement, room for improvement, big, considerable, enormous, be, constitute, reflect, occur, take place, result from something, initiative, plan, programme/program, improvement in, improvement on, improvement over, an area for improvement, an area of improvement, room for improvement | complete remission, partial remission, long-term remission, remission of symptoms, enter remission |
| Antonyms | deterioration, decline | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'improve' as a noun, Using 'improvement' without specifying what is improving, Misplacing prepositions like 'on' or 'in' | Confused with 'remit', which means to send money., Used incorrectly to suggest permanent recovery., Omitting context; needs to be clear if discussing health. |
| Usage notes | Used in both formal and informal contexts, 'improvement' is often applied to skills, behaviors, or processes. It is appropriate in discussions about personal growth, business outcomes, and academic progress. | Used mainly in medical contexts. Avoid in casual conversation. Reflects improvement or absence of symptoms. |
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Frequently asked questions: Improvement vs Remission
What's the difference between Improvement and Remission?
Improvement: Making something better or becoming better. Remission: A period when a disease improves or disappears.
Which is more formal: Improvement and Remission?
Remission is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Improvement and Remission?
Improvement is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Improvement: There has been a significant improvement in her grades this semester. Remission: After months of treatment, she finally achieved remission.
Can I use Improvement and Remission interchangeably?
Not always. Improvement and Remission 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.