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 14 hours ago
SamBC
12.1k1545
asked 15 hours ago
Vishal GhulatiVishal Ghulati
51418
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 14 hours ago
SamBC
12.1k1545
asked 15 hours ago
Vishal GhulatiVishal Ghulati
51418
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 14 hours ago
SamBC
12.1k1545
asked 15 hours ago
Vishal GhulatiVishal Ghulati
51418
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 14 hours ago
SamBC
12.1k1545
asked 15 hours ago
Vishal GhulatiVishal Ghulati
51418
edited 14 hours ago
SamBC
12.1k1545
asked 15 hours ago
Vishal GhulatiVishal Ghulati
51418
edited 14 hours ago
SamBC
12.1k1545
edited 14 hours ago
SamBC
12.1k1545
edited 14 hours ago
SamBC
12.1k1545
12.1k1545
asked 15 hours ago
Vishal GhulatiVishal Ghulati
51418
asked 15 hours ago
Vishal GhulatiVishal Ghulati
51418
asked 15 hours ago
Vishal GhulatiVishal Ghulati
51418
51418
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 14 hours ago
SamBCSamBC
12.1k1545
On a side note, I think that exchanging like for like could be described as refresh.
– Jason Bassford
11 hours ago
@JasonBassford: in some contexts, certainly. Mostly not, in my experience. Like for like replacement is just replacement, in most cases.
– SamBC
11 hours ago
@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
10 hours ago
2
@barbecue: You're right, of course. Though I don't tend to think of business usage as "mainstream".
– SamBC
10 hours ago
@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
9 hours ago
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 14 hours ago
Andrew TobilkoAndrew Tobilko
1,498521
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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active
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
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active
oldest
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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 14 hours ago
SamBCSamBC
12.1k1545
On a side note, I think that exchanging like for like could be described as refresh.
– Jason Bassford
11 hours ago
@JasonBassford: in some contexts, certainly. Mostly not, in my experience. Like for like replacement is just replacement, in most cases.
– SamBC
11 hours ago
@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
10 hours ago
2
@barbecue: You're right, of course. Though I don't tend to think of business usage as "mainstream".
– SamBC
10 hours ago
@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
9 hours ago
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 14 hours ago
SamBCSamBC
12.1k1545
On a side note, I think that exchanging like for like could be described as refresh.
– Jason Bassford
11 hours ago
@JasonBassford: in some contexts, certainly. Mostly not, in my experience. Like for like replacement is just replacement, in most cases.
– SamBC
11 hours ago
@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
10 hours ago
2
@barbecue: You're right, of course. Though I don't tend to think of business usage as "mainstream".
– SamBC
10 hours ago
@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
9 hours ago
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 14 hours ago
SamBCSamBC
12.1k1545
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 14 hours ago
SamBCSamBC
12.1k1545
answered 14 hours ago
SamBCSamBC
12.1k1545
answered 14 hours ago
SamBCSamBC
12.1k1545
answered 14 hours ago
SamBCSamBC
12.1k1545
12.1k1545
On a side note, I think that exchanging like for like could be described as refresh.
– Jason Bassford
11 hours ago
@JasonBassford: in some contexts, certainly. Mostly not, in my experience. Like for like replacement is just replacement, in most cases.
– SamBC
11 hours ago
@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
10 hours ago
2
@barbecue: You're right, of course. Though I don't tend to think of business usage as "mainstream".
– SamBC
10 hours ago
@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
9 hours ago
add a comment |
On a side note, I think that exchanging like for like could be described as refresh.
– Jason Bassford
11 hours ago
@JasonBassford: in some contexts, certainly. Mostly not, in my experience. Like for like replacement is just replacement, in most cases.
– SamBC
11 hours ago
@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
10 hours ago
2
@barbecue: You're right, of course. Though I don't tend to think of business usage as "mainstream".
– SamBC
10 hours ago
@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
9 hours ago
On a side note, I think that exchanging like for like could be described as refresh.
– Jason Bassford
11 hours ago
On a side note, I think that exchanging like for like could be described as refresh.
– Jason Bassford
11 hours ago
@JasonBassford: in some contexts, certainly. Mostly not, in my experience. Like for like replacement is just replacement, in most cases.
– SamBC
11 hours ago
@JasonBassford: in some contexts, certainly. Mostly not, in my experience. Like for like replacement is just replacement, in most cases.
– SamBC
11 hours ago
@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
10 hours ago
@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
10 hours ago
2
2
@barbecue: You're right, of course. Though I don't tend to think of business usage as "mainstream".
– SamBC
10 hours ago
@barbecue: You're right, of course. Though I don't tend to think of business usage as "mainstream".
– SamBC
10 hours ago
@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
9 hours ago
@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
9 hours ago
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 14 hours ago
Andrew TobilkoAndrew Tobilko
1,498521
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 14 hours ago
Andrew TobilkoAndrew Tobilko
1,498521
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 14 hours ago
Andrew TobilkoAndrew Tobilko
1,498521
It’s absolutely fine to say that.
To upgrade something also means to change it for something newer or of a better standard.
answered 14 hours ago
Andrew TobilkoAndrew Tobilko
1,498521
answered 14 hours ago
Andrew TobilkoAndrew Tobilko
1,498521
answered 14 hours ago
Andrew TobilkoAndrew Tobilko
1,498521
answered 14 hours ago
Andrew TobilkoAndrew Tobilko
1,498521
1,498521
add a comment |
add a comment |
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