acquire up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "acquire up" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It seems to be a misunderstanding or miscombination of words, as "acquire" does not typically pair with "up." Example: "I need to acquire new skills for my job."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

(Institutional investors can acquire up to 20 percent).

The New York Times

As the cylinder turned, the microscope could acquire up to eighteen hundred lines a second.

The New Yorker

Paul Capital has an option to acquire up to 25 percent of the fund.

The New York Times

Liberty has also offered to acquire up to $100 million of Sirius's bank loans.

The New York Times

Bloomberg reports that General Motors may acquire up to 7 percent of the French conglomerate PSA Peugeot Citroën.

The New York Times

Concurrently, Biglari Holdings filed with the government under the antitrust rules to acquire up to 49.99 percent of Cracker Barrel.

The New York Times

The agency wants to acquire up to 120 Megahertz of spectrum, with 40 to 80 MHz being the more realistic goal.

The New York Times

The online retailer plans to produce and acquire up to a dozen films a year, for release in movie theatres and via its online video service.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

And although a program called Improving Literacy Through School Libraries, which was introduced in 2001, helps schools acquire "up-to-date school-library media resources, including books," I couldn't uncover which books, if any, the schools bought.

The New York Times - Magazine

Facebook and Google have been known to fight to acquire up-and-coming companies.

Huffington Post

Furthermore, the economical cutbacks led to decreased possibilities to attend courses or meetings to acquire up-dated information on recommendations and guidelines as well as making it more difficult for them to find inspiration and support for how to best motivate pregnant women to perform physical activity.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and grammatical correctness, replace "acquire up" with the more standard verb "acquire." This ensures your writing aligns with conventional English usage.

Common error

Avoid adding "up" after "acquire." The word "acquire" already conveys the meaning of obtaining or gaining something, making the addition of "up" redundant and grammatically unsound.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acquire up" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where the intention is to describe the act of obtaining or gaining something. However, as indicated by Ludwig AI, the addition of "up" is grammatically questionable and considered a miscombination of words.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "acquire up" appears frequently across various sources, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect. It's a verb phrase primarily used to describe obtaining something, often in business or scientific settings. Although seemingly common, especially in News & Media, it’s advisable to use just "acquire" for clearer, grammatically sound writing. The inclusion of "up" is considered redundant and weakens the overall authority and formality of the text. Therefore, opting for alternatives like "obtain" or "secure" ensures both accuracy and professionalism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

acquire

This is the base verb without the particle. It removes the directional or intensifying aspect.

obtain

A synonym for "acquire", focusing on the act of getting something.

secure

Implies effort in obtaining something, adding a sense of competition or difficulty.

procure

Suggests obtaining something, often with care or effort, and typically in a formal or official context.

gain

Focuses on the result of acquisition, often implying an improvement or benefit.

attain

Implies achieving something after a period of effort or striving.

come by

An informal way to say "acquire", often referring to how something was obtained.

get hold of

Suggests actively seeking to obtain something that might be difficult to find or reach.

take possession of

A more formal way of saying "acquire", emphasizing the legal aspect of obtaining ownership.

assume control of

Specific to acquiring power or authority, not necessarily physical objects.

FAQs

Is "acquire up" grammatically correct?

No, "acquire up" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The verb "acquire" already means to obtain or gain something, so adding "up" is redundant. It's better to use only "acquire".

What does "acquire" mean?

"Acquire" means to gain possession of something, often through purchase or effort. You can "acquire" knowledge, skills, or property.

Are there synonyms for "acquire"?

Yes, synonyms for "acquire" include "obtain", "gain", "secure", "procure", and "attain". The best choice depends on the specific context.

How can I use "acquire" in a sentence?

Here's an example of "acquire" used correctly: "The company plans to acquire a smaller competitor next year." Another example: "She worked hard to acquire the necessary skills for the job."