building upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "building upon" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of developing or expanding on an idea, concept, or foundation. Example: "In this paper, we will be building upon the research conducted in previous studies to explore new dimensions of the topic."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Tools to assist with outbreak investigations can be developed relatively easily building upon existing databases in the hospital.

Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control

Building upon this, we can model a tennis tournament.

The New York Times

"I'm really just kind of building upon what Tony had established here," Caldwell said.

The New York Times - Sports

Absurdist satire works when it undermines; it is porously unfit for building upon.

The New York Times - Books

We should be building upon such foundations for peace, not tearing them down.

The New York Times

At this height, it might be the world's tallest building upon completion in 2008 or 2009.

The New York Times

"We wanted to take a lead role in building upon the momentum".

The New York Times

Building upon successful products seems like a solid business practice.

TechCrunch

Building upon the works in [27 29], we can enhance the efficiency in sensing.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

We are witnessing a cultural shift away from violence and aggression that is building upon itself.

BBC

The result was widespread corruption and mismanagement — mistakes building upon mistakes.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "building upon", ensure the connection between the existing foundation and the new development is clear to maintain coherence and logical progression in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "building upon" when the new idea is significantly different from the original, as it may misrepresent the extent of innovation or create confusion about the relationship between the concepts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "building upon" functions as a prepositional verb phrase, often introducing a clause that describes how an idea, concept, or structure is being developed from a previous one. As Ludwig AI explains, it shows a link between existing information and new expansions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "building upon" is a commonly used prepositional phrase indicating the development of ideas, projects, or structures from existing foundations. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently appears in formal and scientific contexts, notably in sources like The New York Times and scientific journals. To use the phrase effectively, clarify the connection between the existing foundation and the new development. Be mindful of overstating novelty, ensuring that you accurately represent the relationship between the concepts. Exploring alternatives like "expanding on" or "leveraging" can also enrich your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expanding on

This alternative suggests a broader development of an idea, rather than specifically constructing on a base.

developing further

Focuses on the continuous growth and evolution of a concept or project.

leveraging

Implies using existing resources or advantages for a greater outcome.

extending

Indicates an increase in scope or duration, often from an existing point.

progressing from

Highlights the forward movement and advancement from a starting point.

adding to

Suggests supplementing existing information or structures with new elements.

elaborating on

Focuses on providing more detail and complexity to an existing idea.

capitalizing on

Emphasizes taking advantage of existing assets or opportunities.

furthering

Implies promoting or advancing something that already exists.

reinforcing

Focuses on strengthening or solidifying an existing structure or idea.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "building upon" in a sentence?

Use "building upon" to show a clear connection between a foundation and subsequent developments. For example, "Building upon previous research, this study explores new dimensions of the topic."

What are some alternatives to "building upon"?

You can use alternatives like "expanding on", "developing further", or "leveraging" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to explicitly state what you are "building upon"?

While not always mandatory, explicitly stating the foundation helps maintain clarity and coherence, particularly in academic and professional writing. Without a clear reference, the reader may not understand the connection.

What's the difference between "building upon" and "relying on"?

"Building upon" implies developing or extending something, whereas "relying on" suggests dependence on something for support or function. The former involves active construction, the latter implies dependence.