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# needs improvement

phrase (verb phrase: needs improvement, need improvement; used in reports and reviews)

«needs improvement» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (euphemism, formal) is poor or is failing; the work is not good enough.
2. (literal) could be made better; there is room to do better.

### In the lessons

Teachers, managers and inspectors write it in school reports, job reviews and official ratings so the bad news sounds calm and fair instead of harsh; it points to the future (you can get better) instead of the failure. Formal and official register, all English-speaking countries; in some school and work grading systems it is the lowest or second-lowest grade.

### Examples

- Handwriting: needs improvement.
- His report card said «spelling needs improvement», which meant he was getting most words wrong.
- The school was rated «requires improvement» by the inspectors.
- Your essay is a good start, but the ending needs improvement.
- Mum, it only says «needs improvement», it's not a fail!
- The restaurant's hygiene rating: needs improvement.
- Team performance in the last quarter needs improvement.
- Our garden fence really needs improvement before winter.

### Note

On a report it usually means «weak» or «below the standard», not «nearly perfect». It sounds cold and bureaucratic said face to face. Plain words it stands for: poor, bad, failing. «Needs» takes -s with one thing (it needs improvement) but not with many (they need improvement). Improvement is uncountable here (no «an improvement» after needs).