Is “upgrade” the right word to use in this context?
My friend said to me,
"I need to upgrade my mobile."
Generally, "upgrade" means "to improve the quality of something you already have".
But my friend wanted to say that he's gonna buy a new phone. Should I correct him or not?
Because I have heard lot of people saying it that way.
word-usage
edited yesterday
SamBC
12.5k1546
asked yesterday
Vishal GhulatiVishal Ghulati
52618
add a comment |
My friend said to me,
"I need to upgrade my mobile."
Generally, "upgrade" means "to improve the quality of something you already have".
But my friend wanted to say that he's gonna buy a new phone. Should I correct him or not?
Because I have heard lot of people saying it that way.
word-usage
edited yesterday
SamBC
12.5k1546
asked yesterday
Vishal GhulatiVishal Ghulati
52618
add a comment |
My friend said to me,
"I need to upgrade my mobile."
Generally, "upgrade" means "to improve the quality of something you already have".
But my friend wanted to say that he's gonna buy a new phone. Should I correct him or not?
Because I have heard lot of people saying it that way.
word-usage
edited yesterday
SamBC
12.5k1546
asked yesterday
Vishal GhulatiVishal Ghulati
52618
My friend said to me,
"I need to upgrade my mobile."
Generally, "upgrade" means "to improve the quality of something you already have".
But my friend wanted to say that he's gonna buy a new phone. Should I correct him or not?
Because I have heard lot of people saying it that way.
word-usage
word-usage
edited yesterday
SamBC
12.5k1546
asked yesterday
Vishal GhulatiVishal Ghulati
52618
edited yesterday
SamBC
12.5k1546
asked yesterday
Vishal GhulatiVishal Ghulati
52618
edited yesterday
SamBC
12.5k1546
edited yesterday
SamBC
12.5k1546
edited yesterday
SamBC
12.5k1546
12.5k1546
asked yesterday
Vishal GhulatiVishal Ghulati
52618
asked yesterday
Vishal GhulatiVishal Ghulati
52618
asked yesterday
Vishal GhulatiVishal Ghulati
52618
52618
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
Upgrade does, generally, mean to make something you already have better. You can upgrade your computer, and that fits clearly in that understanding.
However, it can also apply to the role that object plays for you. If you already have a phone, and replace it with a better phone, that is an upgrade of "your phone", even though it's not an upgrade of the actual device in question.
People will also talk about upgrading their cooker, their TV - even their car, where upgrade could mean having some part of the car replaced with a better version, like upgraded wheels - but it could also mean just getting a better car.
Some people also use this language about romantic partners, which is kind of unpleasant.
The important point is that you wouldn't use it for getting something you don't already have, or getting a second (or third) while you still use the old one. You also only use it if the new one is better. If it's a like-for-like replacement, it's not an upgrade.
(Though on that last point, the process of "upgrading" a mobile phone as an incentive from a phone company can sometimes lead to a near enough like-for-like replacement being called an upgrade.)
answered yesterday
SamBCSamBC
12.5k1546
On a side note, I think that exchanging like for like could be described as refresh.
– Jason Bassford
yesterday
@JasonBassford: in some contexts, certainly. Mostly not, in my experience. Like for like replacement is just replacement, in most cases.
– SamBC
yesterday
@SamBC refresh is commonly used in business IT to refer to bulk replacing existing computers or devices with new ones. "We're planning our laptop refresh for first quarter."
– barbecue
yesterday
2
@barbecue: You're right, of course. Though I don't tend to think of business usage as "mainstream".
– SamBC
yesterday
@SamBC Also, refresh implies not just replacing a device, but replacing ALL of the devices. I wouldn't use it for one person getting a new phone.
– barbecue
yesterday
add a comment |
It’s absolutely fine to say that.
To upgrade something also means to change it for something newer or of a better standard.
answered yesterday
Andrew TobilkoAndrew Tobilko
1,648521
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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active
oldest
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active
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active
oldest
votes
Upgrade does, generally, mean to make something you already have better. You can upgrade your computer, and that fits clearly in that understanding.
However, it can also apply to the role that object plays for you. If you already have a phone, and replace it with a better phone, that is an upgrade of "your phone", even though it's not an upgrade of the actual device in question.
People will also talk about upgrading their cooker, their TV - even their car, where upgrade could mean having some part of the car replaced with a better version, like upgraded wheels - but it could also mean just getting a better car.
Some people also use this language about romantic partners, which is kind of unpleasant.
The important point is that you wouldn't use it for getting something you don't already have, or getting a second (or third) while you still use the old one. You also only use it if the new one is better. If it's a like-for-like replacement, it's not an upgrade.
(Though on that last point, the process of "upgrading" a mobile phone as an incentive from a phone company can sometimes lead to a near enough like-for-like replacement being called an upgrade.)
answered yesterday
SamBCSamBC
12.5k1546
On a side note, I think that exchanging like for like could be described as refresh.
– Jason Bassford
yesterday
@JasonBassford: in some contexts, certainly. Mostly not, in my experience. Like for like replacement is just replacement, in most cases.
– SamBC
yesterday
@SamBC refresh is commonly used in business IT to refer to bulk replacing existing computers or devices with new ones. "We're planning our laptop refresh for first quarter."
– barbecue
yesterday
2
@barbecue: You're right, of course. Though I don't tend to think of business usage as "mainstream".
– SamBC
yesterday
@SamBC Also, refresh implies not just replacing a device, but replacing ALL of the devices. I wouldn't use it for one person getting a new phone.
– barbecue
yesterday
add a comment |
Upgrade does, generally, mean to make something you already have better. You can upgrade your computer, and that fits clearly in that understanding.
However, it can also apply to the role that object plays for you. If you already have a phone, and replace it with a better phone, that is an upgrade of "your phone", even though it's not an upgrade of the actual device in question.
People will also talk about upgrading their cooker, their TV - even their car, where upgrade could mean having some part of the car replaced with a better version, like upgraded wheels - but it could also mean just getting a better car.
Some people also use this language about romantic partners, which is kind of unpleasant.
The important point is that you wouldn't use it for getting something you don't already have, or getting a second (or third) while you still use the old one. You also only use it if the new one is better. If it's a like-for-like replacement, it's not an upgrade.
(Though on that last point, the process of "upgrading" a mobile phone as an incentive from a phone company can sometimes lead to a near enough like-for-like replacement being called an upgrade.)
answered yesterday
SamBCSamBC
12.5k1546
On a side note, I think that exchanging like for like could be described as refresh.
– Jason Bassford
yesterday
@JasonBassford: in some contexts, certainly. Mostly not, in my experience. Like for like replacement is just replacement, in most cases.
– SamBC
yesterday
@SamBC refresh is commonly used in business IT to refer to bulk replacing existing computers or devices with new ones. "We're planning our laptop refresh for first quarter."
– barbecue
yesterday
2
@barbecue: You're right, of course. Though I don't tend to think of business usage as "mainstream".
– SamBC
yesterday
@SamBC Also, refresh implies not just replacing a device, but replacing ALL of the devices. I wouldn't use it for one person getting a new phone.
– barbecue
yesterday
add a comment |
Upgrade does, generally, mean to make something you already have better. You can upgrade your computer, and that fits clearly in that understanding.
However, it can also apply to the role that object plays for you. If you already have a phone, and replace it with a better phone, that is an upgrade of "your phone", even though it's not an upgrade of the actual device in question.
People will also talk about upgrading their cooker, their TV - even their car, where upgrade could mean having some part of the car replaced with a better version, like upgraded wheels - but it could also mean just getting a better car.
Some people also use this language about romantic partners, which is kind of unpleasant.
The important point is that you wouldn't use it for getting something you don't already have, or getting a second (or third) while you still use the old one. You also only use it if the new one is better. If it's a like-for-like replacement, it's not an upgrade.
(Though on that last point, the process of "upgrading" a mobile phone as an incentive from a phone company can sometimes lead to a near enough like-for-like replacement being called an upgrade.)
answered yesterday
SamBCSamBC
12.5k1546
Upgrade does, generally, mean to make something you already have better. You can upgrade your computer, and that fits clearly in that understanding.
However, it can also apply to the role that object plays for you. If you already have a phone, and replace it with a better phone, that is an upgrade of "your phone", even though it's not an upgrade of the actual device in question.
People will also talk about upgrading their cooker, their TV - even their car, where upgrade could mean having some part of the car replaced with a better version, like upgraded wheels - but it could also mean just getting a better car.
Some people also use this language about romantic partners, which is kind of unpleasant.
The important point is that you wouldn't use it for getting something you don't already have, or getting a second (or third) while you still use the old one. You also only use it if the new one is better. If it's a like-for-like replacement, it's not an upgrade.
(Though on that last point, the process of "upgrading" a mobile phone as an incentive from a phone company can sometimes lead to a near enough like-for-like replacement being called an upgrade.)
answered yesterday
SamBCSamBC
12.5k1546
answered yesterday
SamBCSamBC
12.5k1546
answered yesterday
SamBCSamBC
12.5k1546
answered yesterday
SamBCSamBC
12.5k1546
12.5k1546
On a side note, I think that exchanging like for like could be described as refresh.
– Jason Bassford
yesterday
@JasonBassford: in some contexts, certainly. Mostly not, in my experience. Like for like replacement is just replacement, in most cases.
– SamBC
yesterday
@SamBC refresh is commonly used in business IT to refer to bulk replacing existing computers or devices with new ones. "We're planning our laptop refresh for first quarter."
– barbecue
yesterday
2
@barbecue: You're right, of course. Though I don't tend to think of business usage as "mainstream".
– SamBC
yesterday
@SamBC Also, refresh implies not just replacing a device, but replacing ALL of the devices. I wouldn't use it for one person getting a new phone.
– barbecue
yesterday
add a comment |
On a side note, I think that exchanging like for like could be described as refresh.
– Jason Bassford
yesterday
@JasonBassford: in some contexts, certainly. Mostly not, in my experience. Like for like replacement is just replacement, in most cases.
– SamBC
yesterday
@SamBC refresh is commonly used in business IT to refer to bulk replacing existing computers or devices with new ones. "We're planning our laptop refresh for first quarter."
– barbecue
yesterday
2
@barbecue: You're right, of course. Though I don't tend to think of business usage as "mainstream".
– SamBC
yesterday
@SamBC Also, refresh implies not just replacing a device, but replacing ALL of the devices. I wouldn't use it for one person getting a new phone.
– barbecue
yesterday
On a side note, I think that exchanging like for like could be described as refresh.
– Jason Bassford
yesterday
On a side note, I think that exchanging like for like could be described as refresh.
– Jason Bassford
yesterday
@JasonBassford: in some contexts, certainly. Mostly not, in my experience. Like for like replacement is just replacement, in most cases.
– SamBC
yesterday
@JasonBassford: in some contexts, certainly. Mostly not, in my experience. Like for like replacement is just replacement, in most cases.
– SamBC
yesterday
@SamBC refresh is commonly used in business IT to refer to bulk replacing existing computers or devices with new ones. "We're planning our laptop refresh for first quarter."
– barbecue
yesterday
@SamBC refresh is commonly used in business IT to refer to bulk replacing existing computers or devices with new ones. "We're planning our laptop refresh for first quarter."
– barbecue
yesterday
2
2
@barbecue: You're right, of course. Though I don't tend to think of business usage as "mainstream".
– SamBC
yesterday
@barbecue: You're right, of course. Though I don't tend to think of business usage as "mainstream".
– SamBC
yesterday
@SamBC Also, refresh implies not just replacing a device, but replacing ALL of the devices. I wouldn't use it for one person getting a new phone.
– barbecue
yesterday
@SamBC Also, refresh implies not just replacing a device, but replacing ALL of the devices. I wouldn't use it for one person getting a new phone.
– barbecue
yesterday
add a comment |
It’s absolutely fine to say that.
To upgrade something also means to change it for something newer or of a better standard.
answered yesterday
Andrew TobilkoAndrew Tobilko
1,648521
add a comment |
It’s absolutely fine to say that.
To upgrade something also means to change it for something newer or of a better standard.
answered yesterday
Andrew TobilkoAndrew Tobilko
1,648521
add a comment |
It’s absolutely fine to say that.
To upgrade something also means to change it for something newer or of a better standard.
answered yesterday
Andrew TobilkoAndrew Tobilko
1,648521
It’s absolutely fine to say that.
To upgrade something also means to change it for something newer or of a better standard.
answered yesterday
Andrew TobilkoAndrew Tobilko
1,648521
answered yesterday
Andrew TobilkoAndrew Tobilko
1,648521
answered yesterday
Andrew TobilkoAndrew Tobilko
1,648521
answered yesterday
Andrew TobilkoAndrew Tobilko
1,648521
1,648521
add a comment |
add a comment |
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