- Have you ever wondered if you should “make” or “do” an enhancement?
- Do you know which adjectives describe an enhancement most naturally in a professional report?
- Are you unsure whether to use “enhancement of” or “enhancement to” in your writing?
Mastering enhancement collocations is a vital step toward achieving native-level fluency. In English, words don’t exist in isolation; they travel in “word partners.” Learning these combinations prevents “Language Anxiety” by giving you pre-set blocks of language that sound natural to native speakers, ensuring your communication is both precise and professional.
Essential Collocations using ENHANCEMENT as a Noun
In modern English, “enhancement” is a high-frequency noun used extensively in technology, biology, business, and the arts. It refers to the process of improving the quality, value, or extent of something.
Common Adjectives with Enhancement
These adjectives help you define the scale or the specific area of the improvement.
- Significant enhancement: A major or noticeable improvement. (e.g., “The new software update offers a significant enhancement to user security.”)
- Aesthetic enhancement: Improvements related to beauty or appearance. (e.g., “The architect suggested several aesthetic enhancements for the building’s facade.”)
- Performance enhancement: Improvements in how well something functions. (e.g., “Athletes are often warned against using illegal performance enhancements.”)
- Digital enhancement: Using technology to improve images or sound. (e.g., “The old family photos underwent digital enhancement to restore their clarity.”)
- Substantial enhancement: A large, meaningful increase in quality. (e.g., “There has been a substantial enhancement in the school’s facilities this year.”)
Verbs used with Enhancement
These verbs describe the action of creating or needing an improvement.
- Provide an enhancement: To give or offer an improvement. (e.g., “The new features provide a major enhancement to the overall user experience.”)
- Require enhancement: When something is not yet good enough. (e.g., “The current security protocols require further enhancement.”)
- Undergo enhancement: When the object itself is being improved. (e.g., “The engine is currently undergoing enhancement to improve fuel efficiency.”)
- Seek enhancement: To look for ways to improve. (e.g., “Many companies seek enhancement of their brand image through social media.”)
Common Noun + Enhancement Compounds
Sometimes “enhancement” acts as the second part of a compound noun to specify the field.
- Image enhancement: Improving the quality of a picture. (e.g., “The lab specializes in satellite image enhancement.”)
- Process enhancement: Making a workflow more efficient. (e.g., “Our goal this quarter is process enhancement in the manufacturing wing.”)
- Skill enhancement: Improving one’s abilities. (e.g., “The workshop is designed for skill enhancement in public speaking.”)
Common Collocations with ENHANCE as a Verb
While “enhancement” is the noun, using the verb “enhance” correctly is equally important for semantic variety. Here is how it typically pairs with other words.
Adverbs used with Enhance
These adverbs describe how something is enhanced.
- Greatly enhance: To improve something by a large margin. (e.g., “The new lighting will greatly enhance the atmosphere of the room.”)
- Further enhance: To add more improvement to something already good. (e.g., “We hope to further enhance our relationship with our clients.”)
- Mutually enhance: When two things make each other better. (e.g., “The flavors of the wine and the cheese mutually enhance one another.”)
Common Objects for Enhance
These are the things that are most frequently “enhanced” in modern English.
- Enhance quality: To make something better. (e.g., “Regular maintenance will enhance the quality of the machinery.”)
- Enhance reputation: To improve what people think of you. (e.g., “Winning the award enhanced the firm’s reputation significantly.”)
- Enhance skills: To improve your own abilities. (e.g., “The course is a great way to enhance your leadership skills.”)
The Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Significant enhancement | Adj + Noun | A major improvement |
| Provide an enhancement | Verb + Noun | To offer an improvement |
| Greatly enhance | Adverb + Verb | To improve something a lot |
| Enhance performance | Verb + Noun (Object) | To make something work better |
| Undergo enhancement | Verb + Noun | To be in the process of being improved |
| Aesthetic enhancement | Adj + Noun | Visual improvement |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
To sound like a native speaker, avoid literal translations from your first language and use these established enhancement collocations instead.
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| Do an enhancement | Make/Provide an enhancement |
| A big enhancement | A significant/substantial enhancement |
| Enhance the speed (less common) | Increase/Boost the speed |
| Make an enhancement of skills | Enhance your skills (more direct) |
Contextual Story
“Our development team recently decided to provide a significant enhancement to our mobile app. We knew that the user interface was undergoing enhancement, but we also wanted to greatly enhance the security features. By focusing on performance enhancement and digital enhancement of the graphics, we were able to enhance our reputation as a market leader. This project served as an excellent opportunity for skill enhancement for our junior developers.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Enhancement Collocations
Is there a difference between “enhancement” and “improvement”?
Yes. While they are synonyms, “enhancement” usually implies taking something that is already good and making it better or more sophisticated. “Improvement” is more general and can mean fixing something that was broken or poor.
What preposition follows “enhancement”?
We typically use “of” or “to.” Use “enhancement of [something]” (e.g., enhancement of the image) or “enhancement to [a system]” (e.g., enhancement to the software).
Can “enhancement” be used in a negative context?
Generally, no. “Enhancement” has a positive connotation. However, in sports, “performance enhancement” is often used negatively when referring to banned substances (doping).
Is “enhancements” (plural) commonly used?
Yes, especially in technology and business. You will often hear about “software enhancements” or “security enhancements” in the plural form when referring to a list of specific changes.
Which is more common: “make enhancements” or “do enhancements”?
“Make enhancements” is the correct collocation. “Do enhancements” sounds unnatural to native speakers and should be avoided in professional writing.
Are there specific collocations for 'enhancement' when talking about personal growth or skills, or is it mostly for products and systems? For example, 'skill enhancement'?
Excellent question, Isabelle! While 'enhancement' is very common for products and systems, it absolutely applies to personal growth and skills too. 'Skill enhancement' is a perfectly natural and widely used collocation. You could also talk about 'career enhancement', 'personal enhancement', or 'knowledge enhancement'. These typically refer to improving or developing existing abilities or attributes. It's a very versatile word!
I teach business English, and the examples you provide are incredibly relevant for my students who work in IT and project management. The focus on high-frequency nouns like 'enhancement' is brilliant.
We're thrilled to hear that, Carlo! Our aim is to provide practical, real-world English for professionals, and we know that high-frequency nouns with their natural collocations are essential for effective communication in fields like IT and project management. Thank you for sharing your positive feedback – it motivates us to create more content like this!
Thank you for addressing the 'make' or 'do' confusion with 'enhancement'! I always wondered about that in formal writing. This clears it up perfectly.
Can 'enhancement' ever be used to describe something that seems like an improvement but is actually detrimental? Like a 'superficial enhancement'?
That's a clever observation, Nikhil! Yes, 'superficial enhancement' is a great example of using an adjective to qualify 'enhancement' in a critical way, implying that the improvement lacks depth or real value. Other similar collocations could be 'cosmetic enhancement' (often implying only surface-level change) or even 'illusory enhancement' if the perceived improvement is not real. Context and the accompanying adjective are key!
This is exactly what I needed! I'm preparing for an IELTS exam, and understanding these collocations is crucial for improving my writing band score, especially for task 2.
The part about 'aesthetic enhancement' makes me think of interior design or architecture. Is it mostly confined to those fields, or can it be used more broadly?
While 'aesthetic enhancement' is certainly prominent in fields like interior design, architecture, and art, Javier, it's not exclusively confined to them! You might also see it used in discussions about user interface (UI) design, fashion, product packaging, graphic design, or even urban planning – any context where visual appeal or beauty is being improved. It's a versatile collocation!
I always just said 'make better'. 'Enhancement' sounds so much more professional and precise, especially for my work presentations. I need to start using it more!
Do British English speakers use 'enhancement' in the same way as American English speakers, or are there subtle differences in frequency or context that I should be aware of?
That's a very perceptive question, David! For the noun 'enhancement' and its core collocations as discussed, there are generally no significant differences in meaning or common usage between British English and American English. Both varieties use it widely in technical, business, and formal contexts. Any minor differences would likely be in broader stylistic preferences rather than specific collocations themselves.
This article gave me a real performance enhancement in my report writing! Thank you for making these complex topics so accessible.
I've heard 'minor enhancement' before. Is that also a common way to describe a small improvement?
Yes, Chen Wei, 'minor enhancement' is indeed a very common and natural collocation! It's an excellent way to describe a small, less impactful, but still positive improvement, contrasting nicely with 'significant enhancement'. For example, 'The new app update included a minor enhancement to its notification system.'