building upon existing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "building upon existing" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing the development or enhancement of ideas, projects, or systems that are already in place. For example, "The new strategy is building upon existing research to improve outcomes." Alternative expressions include "leveraging current," "expanding on established," and "enhancing existing."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 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

It's about building upon existing and potentially new connections.

Harvard Business Review

But now a new generation of smaller tech companies has formed and is building upon existing foundations in diverse and interesting ways.

The Guardian - Tech

In 2015, Columbia University launched a semester long global core course in Istanbul, building upon existing relationships with Boğaziçi University and the Columbia Global Centers | Istanbul.

Columbia University

Building upon existing LED lighting systems, CeilingSee converts part of the ceiling-mounted LED luminaires to act as sensors, sensing the variances in diffuse reflection caused by occupants.

Pervasive and Mobile Computing

Rather than reinventing the wheel or splurging on expensive R&D projects, they develop new solutions by building upon existing infrastructure and assets, as well as by recombining existing solutions.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

For the automakers, on the other hand, self-driving is more about evolution than revolution — about building incrementally upon existing features like smart cruise control and parking assist to make cars that are safer and easier to drive, although the driver is still in control.

The New York Times

Contrary to Zynga or Germany's Gameforge, they are not building games upon existing platforms such as Facebook, but will have their own proprietary platform and technology.

TechCrunch

They build upon existing Programme guidance.

Unicef

Building upon nurses' existing workflows, E-Heza's platform makes it easy for nurses to log health data while examining patients.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Building upon the existing collections in the Institute Archives, the Libraries will acquire, preserve, and make accessible the unique personal archives documenting the careers of MIT's female faculty in science and engineering.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "building upon existing", ensure that the base or foundation you are referring to is clearly defined for your audience. This provides context and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "building upon existing" when the new development is significantly different or innovative. In such cases, it may be more accurate to describe it as a new approach rather than an extension of the old.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "building upon existing" functions as a prepositional phrase that often modifies a verb, indicating how an action is performed. It clarifies that a new development or action is based on a pre-existing foundation or framework. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

Academia

30%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "building upon existing" is a prepositional phrase indicating development or progress based on established foundations. Grammatically correct and versatile, it frequently appears in scientific, academic, and news contexts. Ludwig AI identifies it as correct and usable in writing. Alternatives like "leveraging existing" or "expanding on existing" provide nuanced options depending on the specific message you wish to convey. Remember to clearly define the existing base to maintain clarity and avoid overstating the novelty of the development.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

leveraging existing

Focuses on maximizing the utility of what already exists.

expanding on existing

Emphasizes the act of growth and development from a current base.

developing from existing

Highlights the evolutionary aspect of advancement.

extending existing

Suggests making something longer or more comprehensive.

enhancing existing

Implies improving or making something better than it currently is.

capitalizing on existing

Stresses taking advantage of present resources or conditions.

furthering existing

Indicates advancing or promoting something already in place.

progressing from existing

Implies movement forward from a current state.

augmenting existing

Suggests adding to something in order to improve it.

refining existing

Emphasizes improving something by making small changes.

FAQs

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

You can use "building upon existing" to describe the process of developing something new based on something already established. For example, "The company is "building upon existing" infrastructure to create a more efficient system."

What are some alternatives to "building upon existing"?

Some alternatives to "building upon existing" include "leveraging existing", "expanding on existing", or "developing from existing".

Is it better to say "building upon existing" or "expanding on existing"?

Both "building upon existing" and "expanding on existing" are correct and the choice depends on the context. "Building upon existing" emphasizes the foundational aspect, while "expanding on existing" highlights growth.

What's the difference between "building upon existing" and "creating new"?

"Building upon existing" implies that something is being developed based on a pre-existing foundation, while "creating new" suggests that something entirely original is being made without prior precedent.