def make_subplot_better(ax):
    ax.figure.subplots_adjust(bottom=0.15, left=0.125, right=0.925, top=0.90, hspace=0.5)

    # set the grid on
    ax.grid('on')

    # add more ticks
    ax.set_xticks(np.arange(25))

    # remove tick marks
    ax.xaxis.set_tick_params(size=0)
    ax.yaxis.set_tick_params(size=0)

    # change the color of the top and right spines to opaque gray
    ax.spines['right'].set_color((.8, .8, .8))
    ax.spines['top'].set_color((.8, .8, .8))

    # tweak the axis labels
    xlab = ax.xaxis.get_label()
    ylab = ax.yaxis.get_label()

    xlab.set_style('italic')
    xlab.set_size(10)
    ylab.set_style('italic')
    ylab.set_size(10)

    # tweak the title
    ttl = ax.title
    ttl.set_weight('bold')