build the basis

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "build the basis" is not correct in standard written English; the correct expression is "lay the basis" or "establish the basis." You can use it when discussing foundational concepts or principles in various contexts, such as education, business, or research.
Example: "We need to lay the basis for our new project by conducting thorough market research."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

Several incident reporting formats build the basis for information sharing.

Computers & Security

Europe must step up and help build the basis for a deeper, more far-reaching collaboration.

The New York Times

Such experiments would build the basis of the new field of quantum electronics.

University of California, Berkeley

This is why these proposals can not build the basis for a completely new, three year ESM [bailout] program, as requested by Greece.

The New Yorker

But it's hard to see how they can build the basis for a successful federal court challenge to the state court's decision.

The New York Times

Foreign diplomats close to the talks see scant prospect of progress.The roots of the conflict lie in a failure to build the basis of a functional state.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Thus, the calculation of predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) builds the basis of a first exposure assessment.

Environmental Modelling & Software

These aspects built the basis for explorative factor analyses conducted for each work system separately.

Procedia CIRP

It also illustrated that, prior to the inflection moments, reflection built the basis on which high-level questions were formulated.

Design Studies

HRSC also builds the basis for extended compositional mapping when combining spectral information with topographic photomaps over large areas.

Planetary and Space Science

It was founded by an amazing woman entrepreneur, Yone Suzuki, who built the basis of what we know as the international trade companies of Japan today.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for "lay the basis" or "establish the basis" for clearer and more grammatically sound communication.

Common error

Avoid using "build the basis". Instead, use "lay the basis" or "establish the basis" to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "build the basis" functions as a verb phrase aiming to express the action of creating or establishing a foundation. However, according to Ludwig, this phrasing is not considered standard English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

58%

News & Media

29%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "build the basis" is used across diverse contexts like science, news, and formal business, it is considered grammatically incorrect in standard written English. Ludwig suggests using alternatives such as "lay the basis" or "establish the basis" for improved clarity and correctness. Although somewhat common, especially in scientific literature, opting for the suggested alternatives enhances the credibility and formality of your writing. Due to grammatical concerns, it is advisable to rely on better established alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lay the foundation

Replaces "build" with "lay" and "basis" with "foundation", implying a more concrete beginning.

establish the groundwork

Uses "establish" instead of "build", and "groundwork" in place of "basis", suggesting preparatory work.

create the foundation

Substitutes "build" with "create", emphasizing the act of making a foundation.

form the foundation

Similar to "create the foundation", but with a slightly different nuance.

develop the base

Replaces "basis" with "base", which is a more direct synonym in some contexts.

construct the base

Uses "construct" instead of "build", implying a more structured creation.

set the stage

Uses a more figurative expression to mean preparing for something to happen.

shape the foundation

Implies a more active and deliberate formation of the groundwork.

establish the footing

Replaces "basis" with "footing", emphasizing stability and support.

design the base

Focuses on the planning aspect of creating a base or foundation.

FAQs

What is the grammatically correct alternative to "build the basis"?

The grammatically correct alternatives are "lay the basis" or "establish the basis".

In what contexts can I use "lay the basis" or "establish the basis"?

You can use "lay the basis" or "establish the basis" when discussing foundational concepts, principles, or preparatory work in various contexts, such as education, business, or research.

Is "build the basis" considered incorrect in standard English?

Yes, "build the basis" is generally considered incorrect in standard written English. It's more appropriate to use "lay the basis" or "establish the basis".

What's the difference between "build the basis" and "lay the basis"?

"Build the basis" is not standard English. The correct phrase is "lay the basis", which means to prepare the foundation for something.