argue upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "argue upon" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward to native speakers.
It can be used when discussing a topic or issue that is being debated or discussed, but "argue about" is more standard. Example: "They tend to argue upon the merits of the new policy, but rarely reach a consensus."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

They proved the sexual relationship, but Callender went on to argue, upon weaker evidence, that the husband, James Reynolds, a cheap but ambitious crook, had made extortionate demands that compelled Hamilton into the misuse of treasury information.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Bala et al., (2013) drills into the dynamic nature of social entrepreneurship and argues upon the two overlying and possibly conflicting notions.

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

Human sacrifice played a significant part in the ritual, although the contexts and extents of sacrifice are still argued upon today.

WikiHow

We argue that, upon validation, a computational model can be used to optimize cell culture conditions and to design new experiments.

Biosystems

We argue that upon the structural change of a protein, the gain or loss of the intramolecular energy is largely compensated by the loss or gain of the hydration energy, when the folding is considered under the isochoric condition.

Chemical Physics Letters

We argue that upon taking beta diversity patterns into account, the strict notion of complete sequencing of an entire ecosystem (e.g. soil) is a near impossibility.

Plosone

During this time, they argue, Warren relied upon this classification to enhance her employment opportunities and to improve Harvard's numbers.

The New York Times

We argue, however, based upon Searle's analysis of institutional reality, that such rights and obligations exist and are knowable only under certain conditions, that when those conditions hold FVM is not distinctive, and that when they do not hold the requirements of FVM are wishful and incoherent.

Accounting, Organizations and Society

Camp details Camp activities: Game drives (no night drives here); according to Mombo's website, "the best game viewing in Botswana," and I probably wouldn't argue; private vehicle upon request.

Huffington Post

It also argued that upon graduation every year a "fraternity presumably ceases to associate regularly with a quarter of its members," a notion that would seem to ignore altogether that many students are on a five-year plan.

The New York Times

AARP argues that upon death of a reverse mortgage borrower, say a single person, heirs are supposed to have a choice between paying off the loan, paying 95 percent of the home's fair market value or giving the home to the lender in order to satisfy the loan.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While grammatically correct, consider using more common alternatives like "argue about" or "debate over" for clearer and more natural writing.

Common error

Avoid using "argue upon" in casual conversation or informal writing. It can sound overly formal or stilted. Opt for simpler alternatives like "argue about" or "discuss" in these situations.

Linguistic Context

"Argue upon" functions as a verb phrase indicating a discussion or debate about a particular subject. The verb "argue" signifies presenting reasons for or against something, while the preposition "upon" specifies the topic being debated. Ludwig AI indicates it is grammatically acceptable, albeit less common.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "argue upon" is grammatically acceptable but less frequent than alternatives like "argue about". It is more often found in formal and scientific contexts. Ludwig AI suggests that while correct, using "argue upon" might sound less natural in everyday conversation. Therefore, while you can use "argue upon", consider opting for more common alternatives depending on your audience and the tone of your writing for clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

debate about

Replaces "upon" with "about" for a more common preposition choice.

dispute over

Substitutes both the verb and preposition for synonyms.

contend regarding

Employs a more formal verb and preposition.

reason about

Focuses on the reasoning aspect of the argument.

discuss concerning

Uses a more neutral verb and preposition.

quarrel over

Implies a more heated or emotional argument.

wrangling about

Suggests a prolonged and possibly petty argument.

bicker about

Implies a childish argument

fight about

Suggests an intense disagreement

deliberate on

Emphasizes careful consideration during the argument

FAQs

What does "argue upon" mean?

"Argue upon" means to present reasons for or against something, often with the goal of convincing someone else. It is similar to "argue about".

Is "argue upon" grammatically correct?

Yes, "argue upon" is grammatically correct, although it is less common than alternatives like "argue about".

What can I say instead of "argue upon"?

You can use alternatives like "debate about", "discuss concerning" or "dispute over" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "argue upon" or "argue about"?

Both "argue upon" and "argue about" are grammatically correct, but "argue about" is more common and widely accepted.