borrow ideas from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "borrow ideas from" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when someone wants to learn or gain insights from the ideas of another person. For example, "We can borrow ideas from other successful businesses to help grow our own."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

One approach is to borrow ideas from biology.

The New York Times

That prompted them to borrow ideas from other fields, such as auction design and game theory.

The Economist

I borrow ideas from lots of areas, including other coaching set-ups".

Independent

Bionomics argued that economics was hopelessly wedded to the principles of mechanics, and should instead borrow ideas from evolutionary biology.

The Economist

He compared the game industry to the movie industry, where new films always borrow ideas from older ones.

The New York Times

At Wednesday's news conference, he seemed to address or borrow ideas from two columns in that morning's newspapers.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

Indeed, they have borrowed ideas from him.

The Economist

This methodology borrows ideas from multiple disciplines including cognitive ergonomics, computer science and industrial engineering.

Procedia Manufacturing

Then, as commercial video games became more sophisticated, the military began borrowing ideas from them.

The New York Times - Tech

FRIEND LISTS Facebook has also been busy borrowing ideas from Google.

The New York Times - Tech

True to Asana's Facebook roots, it borrows ideas from social networking.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you "borrow ideas from" another field, properly credit the original source to avoid plagiarism and show respect for intellectual property.

Common error

Avoid solely depending on external concepts without adapting them to fit your specific context. Ensure you're not just replicating but innovating.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "borrow ideas from" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of adopting or adapting concepts, insights, or strategies from an external source. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for written English. The examples in Ludwig demonstrate its usage across various domains.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

32%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "borrow ideas from" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the act of adopting or adapting concepts from an external source. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for written English and widely used across various contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media, Science, and Academic sources, the phrase carries a neutral tone, making it versatile for different registers. When using this phrase, it's crucial to credit the original source and adapt the borrowed ideas to fit your specific context, ensuring innovation rather than mere replication. Alternatives such as "adopt concepts from" or "draw inspiration from" can provide nuanced variations of the same theme.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adopt concepts from

Focuses on the active selection and integration of concepts, differing from merely taking ideas.

integrate principles of

Highlights the incorporation of core beliefs or standards into a new system.

adapt strategies from

Emphasizes modifying existing strategies to fit a new context.

derive insights from

Focuses on gaining understanding or knowledge rather than copying.

draw inspiration from

Highlights the inspirational aspect, suggesting a creative influence rather than a direct adoption.

emulate methodologies of

Suggests a deliberate attempt to imitate successful methods, often in a professional setting.

take cues from

Implies a subtle or indirect form of learning or imitation.

glean lessons from

Implies extracting specific lessons or teachings from a broader context.

build upon foundations of

Indicates a process of incremental development, starting from an existing base.

cross-pollinate with concepts from

Suggests a more complex, interactive exchange of ideas between different fields or disciplines.

FAQs

How can I "borrow ideas from" other fields effectively?

Start by thoroughly understanding the source material, then adapt and integrate the concepts creatively into your own work, ensuring proper attribution.

What does it mean to "borrow ideas from" someone?

It means to gain inspiration or insights from someone else's concepts and incorporate them into your own work, while giving appropriate credit.

Is it ethical to "borrow ideas from" others?

Yes, as long as you acknowledge the original source and avoid claiming the ideas as your own. Ethical borrowing involves building upon existing knowledge, not stealing it.

What are some alternatives to saying "borrow ideas from"?

You can use alternatives like "adopt concepts from", "draw inspiration from", or "take cues from" depending on the nuance you want to convey.