I built upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I built upon" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the development or enhancement of an idea, project, or concept based on previous work or foundations. Example: "In my research, I built upon the findings of earlier studies to propose a new theory."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"It's very frustrating; of course I wanted to continue what I built upon," Thomas said.

The New York Times - Sports

Finally, in the 6th century, Gregory I built upon the legacy of Augustine and the other 4th-century fathers.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Here I build upon their work and previous research focused on variation in network connectivity rather than size to investigate how network size and basic topology influence quantitative trait heritability and population persistence in a changing environment.

Plosone

In contrast, I build upon the works of Wächtershäuser in this respect and argue that the syntheses of polymers could proceed at ZnS surfaces where the first RNA-like polymers were protected from photodamage.

Biology Direct

"I thought I had built upon a solid rock / but it's just a Humpty Dumpty World," he sings.

The New Yorker

He makes note of incitive politicians and craven television commentators, and views it as "a ball of confusion" in the chorus line, "I thought I had built upon a solid rock / But it's just a Humpty Dumpty World".

Wikipedia

He previously founded Superfeedr, which developed a "Feed API" that built upon RSS and Atom to make feeds more useful and real-time.

TechCrunch

The questionnaire is task-oriented, i.e. it builds upon 24 general tasks essential to physicians' work.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Since then, I have built upon them very little, but even the meager smattering — the first half of Stanley Kunitz's "Touch Me," the last stanza of Matthew Arnold's "Dover Beach," Eliza Griswold's "Tigers" — are certainly a precious kind of company.

The New Yorker

The SILVER-AMI network is built upon the foundation of the recruitment network assembled for the VIRGO study [ 8] and additional sites were recruited through the American College of Cardiology's Section of Geriatric Cardiology.

BMC Health Services Research

"He gave us a foundation upon which I will build, upon which I will make a new start to include those who have not yet fully enjoyed the benefits of the progress we have made," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I built upon" to clearly indicate that your work is based on previous research or ideas. This acknowledges the foundation upon which you are developing your own contributions.

Common error

Avoid using "I built upon" when your work is entirely original and has no direct connection to prior work. Choose language that emphasizes the novelty of your contribution.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I built upon" serves as a transitive verb phrase, indicating that the subject ('I') is extending or developing something that already exists. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage for this purpose. Examples show it connects the subject's work to a pre-existing foundation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I built upon" is a useful way to express that your work expands on existing knowledge or achievements. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and suitable for various formal and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, be sure to clearly indicate the foundation upon which you are building and avoid overstating the originality of your work. Similar phrases include "I expanded upon" and "I developed further". It's a good practice to connect your work to previous research to contextualize your contribution. While it may seem like common advice, remember to always give credit when building upon other people's ideas!

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I expanded upon

Replaces 'built' with 'expanded', emphasizing growth or enlargement of an existing idea.

I developed further

Focuses on the progression and advancement of a concept or project.

I elaborated on

Suggests adding more detail or explanation to a previously established point.

I augmented

Highlights the addition of something to improve or enhance the original.

I enhanced

Emphasizes the improvement in quality or value of something already existing.

I took it further

Indicates a progression to a more advanced stage or level.

I refined

Suggests a process of making something more subtle and effective.

I extended

Implies increasing the scope or range of something.

I capitalized on

Focuses on taking advantage of an existing situation or resource.

I leveraged

Emphasizes the use of something to gain an advantage or achieve a goal.

FAQs

How can I use "I built upon" in a sentence?

Use "I built upon" to show how your work is connected to and extends previous ideas or findings. For example, "I built upon existing theories to develop a new model."

What phrases are similar to "I built upon"?

Alternatives include "I expanded upon", "I developed further", and "I elaborated on", which all indicate extending or adding to existing work.

Is there a difference between "I built upon" and "I based my work on"?

"I based my work on" indicates a foundational reliance, while "I built upon" suggests further development or extension of that foundation.

When should I use "I built upon" instead of "I created"?

Use "I built upon" when you are extending or refining existing work. Use "I created" when you are introducing something entirely new or original.