build up a database

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "build up a database" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the process of creating or accumulating data in a structured format for storage and retrieval. Example: "Our goal this quarter is to build up a database of customer feedback to improve our services."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

The goal is to build up a database of these little-understood microscopic organisms.

The New York Times

Procurement technology could also help landlords build up a database of market intelligence to inform future buying decisions, rather than relying on suppliers for information.

The Guardian

Beneath the Camel logo, Urban Wave dance parties – stretching from Mexico to the Ukraine – hand out free cigarettes, and are themselves free: you must be invited and register, thereby helping the tobacco company build up a database.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

By cataloguing the viruses in their blood and other bodily fluids, Baker wants to build up a database of the kinds of things circulating in different parts of the country.

The Guardian

But it is their potential for accurate information-gathering that is proving to be an equally important talent.Greater mechanisation may prompt farmers to change some of their ways and the varieties they grow.Crop-tending robots that use vision systems, laser sensors, satellite positioning and instruments to measure things like humidity can build up a database of information about each plant.

The Economist

SIF results of these numerical models were used to build up a database.

Engineering Failure Analysis

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

The reporter built up a database of emails that he believed would help defeat Anne Darwin's defence.

The Guardian

Ms. Kelly of Signium, which does not recruit for Deutsche Telekom, said her firm had in the past year built up a database of some 150 female executives across Germany.

The New York Times

By combining its existing 1m names (gathered from people who had responded to previous offers on tinned goods) with lists of similar households bought from brokers, Heinz has built up a database of 4.6m people to send a copy of At Home, a free magazine of recipes which also promotes its products.

The Economist

Their monitoring has been able to identify when posts bearing these terms appear and disappear and with that, how long it takes for each to be taken down.The team has built up a database comprising more than 11m posts that were made on 1,382 Chinese internet forums.

The Economist

They built up a database of the activity in a key visual centre of the brain as three fellow researchers watched a compilation of Hollywood film trailer clips.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "build up a database", consider specifying the type of data and the purpose of the database for clarity. For example, "build up a database of customer preferences" or "build up a database to track project progress".

Common error

Avoid using "build up a database" when only referring to simple data entry. The phrase implies a more strategic and organized approach to data collection and structuring.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "build up a database" functions primarily as a verb phrase, typically used with a subject to describe the action of creating and expanding a data repository. Ludwig highlights examples of this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "build up a database" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe the process of creating and expanding a structured collection of data. As Ludwig confirms, it appears frequently in various contexts, particularly in news, science, and business. While alternatives like "create a database" or "develop a database" exist, "build up a database" specifically emphasizes the gradual accumulation and organization of information over time. When using this phrase, consider specifying the type and purpose of the database for enhanced clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

create a database

Focuses on the act of creating rather than the gradual accumulation.

develop a database

Emphasizes the evolution and refinement of the database.

compile a database

Highlights the collection of data from various sources.

establish a database

Stresses the initial setup and foundation of the database.

construct a database

Implies a more structured and methodical approach to building the database.

assemble a database

Suggests bringing together different pieces of information.

accumulate data

Focuses specifically on the accumulation of information, rather than the database itself.

gather information

Emphasizes the process of collecting data.

populate a database

Stresses filling an existing database with data.

expand a database

Highlights the growth and addition of more entries to an existing database.

FAQs

What is the best way to "build up a database"?

The best way to "build up a database" depends on your specific needs, but typically involves defining your data requirements, choosing appropriate database software, designing the database structure, and then systematically collecting and inputting the data.

What's the difference between "build up a database" and simply creating one?

While "create a database" focuses on the initial act of making a database, "build up a database" emphasizes a gradual and ongoing process of adding and organizing data over time.

Which phrase is more appropriate: "build up a database" or "develop a database"?

Both phrases are valid, but "develop a database" suggests a more comprehensive and iterative process that includes refinement and improvement over time, whereas "build up a database" focuses more on the accumulation of data.

What are some alternatives to "build up a database" that emphasize data collection?

If the focus is specifically on data collection, you might use phrases like "gather information" or "compile data" instead of "build up a database".