adding on to

USAGE SUMMARY

"adding on to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are connecting one idea or thought to another. For example, "We ran out of ingredients halfway through making dinner, adding on to our difficulties."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

An obsessed college professor (Nancy Travis, left, with Kimberly J. Brown) invites a team of psychics and an autistic teenager to spend a few days in a haunted mansion that keeps adding on to itself.

The New York Times

"We remember it well … I just want them to have long memories of what it was like the last time we were here, and take it from there – the Calgary game adding on to that," Boudreau said.

Los Angeles Times

Since the Fibonacci sequence grows by adding on to itself in an organic way, it has been argued that one should expect to see Fibonacci numbers and the ratios between them in living forms.

The Guardian

"It's just adding on to it".

The New York Times

I just feel like I'm adding on to it".

The New York Times - Sports

LinkedIn, the social network for businesspeople, is adding on to its biggest business: matching jobs to job seekers.

The New York Times

This 42-year-old house could be updated for a family today without adding on to it.

The New York Times

Sixty-odd years after helmets were introduced to hitters, adding on to what already exists represents an easier change.

The Guardian - Sport

"It's nicer than a shed," he said, "and more cost effective than adding on to the house".

The New York Times - Travel

"We're reducing our costs and overheads where a lot are adding on to what they had last year, so it will be a tougher division.

Independent

Frank Cholewinski, 39, of Fort Mill, S.C., is currently adding on to the skate ramp he began building in his backyard in 1998.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "adding on to", ensure the initial element is clearly defined before indicating what is being added. This maintains clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "adding on to" when a simpler conjunction like 'and' or 'also' would suffice. Overusing complex phrases can make your writing sound convoluted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "adding on to" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase indicating supplementation or augmentation. As Ludwig AI illustrates, it connects new information, features, or elements to something already existing. It shows the act of increasing or extending something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "adding on to" is a common and grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to indicate the act of supplementing or augmenting something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for various contexts, ranging from news and media to academic and professional writing. While versatile, it's important to use it judiciously, avoiding overuse in simple sentences where more direct language would suffice. For related ideas, consider alternatives such as "supplementing", "expanding on", or "building upon", each conveying a slightly different nuance. By understanding its proper usage and context, you can effectively incorporate "adding on to" in your writing to convey a clear sense of increase or extension.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expanding on

Suggests a detailed development or elaboration of an existing topic or idea.

developing further

Emphasizes a more advanced stage of growth or evolution.

building upon

Emphasizes the idea of using something as a foundation to create something more substantial.

extending

Highlights the act of making something longer or more comprehensive.

elaborating

Refers to adding more details to an idea or concept.

supplementing

Focuses on providing something extra to enhance or complete.

enhancing

Focuses on improving the quality or desirability of something.

augmenting

Implies adding something to increase value or effectiveness.

furthering

Implies advancing or promoting something to a greater extent.

increasing

Focuses on the aspect of growing in size, number, or degree.

FAQs

How can I use "adding on to" in a sentence?

Use "adding on to" to indicate supplementing something already present, such as "The company is "adding on to" its existing product line with a new service".

What's a simpler alternative to "adding on to"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "supplementing", "expanding", or simply "and". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it always necessary to use a preposition after "add on"?

While "add on" can sometimes function without 'to', "adding on to" is typically used when you're specifying what is being supplemented or increased, ensuring the sentence remains grammatically complete.

How does "adding on to" differ from "building upon"?

"Adding on to" generally implies supplementing something, while "building upon" suggests using an existing foundation to create something more substantial. The distinction lies in the degree of structural dependence.