add to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "add to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something is being increased or added to a situation in order to make it more complete, such as in the sentence: "We decided to add to our vacation with a visit to the local museum."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Why add to it?

The New York Times

Add to the grains.

The New York Times - Health

Add to the tuna.

The New York Times - Health

Add to the sauce.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Add to Guinness mixture.

The New York Times

Add to glass.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Add to squid.

The New York Times

add to eventset.

EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems

Add to creamed mixture.

Los Angeles Times

Kamehameha add to cart.

Vice

Add to butter mixture.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When providing instructions, use "add to" to clearly indicate the next ingredient or step in a sequence. For example, "Add the flour to the wet ingredients and mix well."

Common error

Avoid using "add to" reflexively when the subject is not directly increasing itself. For instance, instead of "This experience will add to myself", use "This experience will add to my knowledge" or "It'll "add to experience"".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "add to" functions primarily as a transitive verb phrase, indicating the action of combining or increasing something with another. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically sound and highly versatile, appearing in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

38%

News & Media

25%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "add to" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to indicate the act of increasing, including, or contributing something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and appears frequently across diverse contexts, from formal news articles to informal wikis. The phrase functions as a transitive verb phrase, serving to express increment or inclusion, and maintains a generally neutral register, making it widely applicable. While alternatives like "append to" and "augment with" exist, "add to" remains a common and effective choice for conveying the idea of combining elements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incorporate into

Suggests formally integrating something as part of a larger structure or system.

append to

This alternative suggests attaching something at the end, usually in a sequential manner.

supplement with

Indicates adding something to compensate for a deficiency or to enhance completeness.

augment with

This phrase implies enriching or enhancing something by adding an extra element.

include in

Suggests incorporating something as part of a larger whole.

increase by

Focuses on numerical growth or expansion when something is added.

attach to

Implies physically joining or connecting something to something else.

mix in

Refers to incorporating one substance into another, often in cooking or chemistry.

contribute to

Highlights the action of providing or giving something to a common purpose or fund.

fold in

Specific to cooking, suggesting a gentle incorporation of ingredients.

FAQs

How can I use "add to" in a sentence?

Use "add to" to indicate that something is being included or combined with something else, such as, "We decided to "add to cart" a few more items before checking out."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "add to"?

Alternatives to "add to" include "append to", "augment with", or "incorporate into", depending on the context.

Is "add to" formal or informal?

"Add to" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, as noted by Ludwig's analysis of sources like news articles and wikiHow articles.

What's the difference between "add to" and "contribute to"?

"Add to" generally means to increase or include something, while "contribute to" implies providing something that helps achieve a goal or outcome. For example, "Volunteering will "add to your presentation"" versus "Volunteering will contribute to the success of the event."