building upon that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "building upon that" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want to indicate that you are expanding on a previous idea or concept. For example, "Building upon that foundation, we can explore new possibilities." Alternative expressions include "expanding on that" and "elaborating on that."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

"To me, it's as simple as taking the creativity" of Doner "and building upon that," Mr. Strasberg said.

The New York Times

"Coach Smith understands the commitment our players have made to building upon that success and meeting the goals that have been set for the upcoming season," Long said.

The New York Times - Sports

The key, Quinn said, was building upon that success by keeping the same team together and making tournaments the norm rather than exception.

The Guardian - Sport

Their research explores how the character of philanthropy has changed, and how modern-day corporate notions of social responsibility and sustainability succeed or fail in continuing and building upon that historic legacy.

The Guardian

There's been a lot of very good practice going on for many years and what we are doing is building upon that good practice and adding some new impetus along the way as well".

BBC

It was building upon that outdoor-recreational theme, just to add other amenities to complement the outdoor recreation in the area.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

"Sadiq Khan has left a fantastic legacy with his tireless work in he community in the last 11 years and I look forward to building upon all that he's done for community cohesion and all that he's done locally," she said.

The Guardian

"The mobile industry is moving fast and all players, including newcomers, are building upon ideas that have been around for decades," Google responded in a Sunday statement.

The Guardian - Tech

"The mobile industry is moving fast and all players - including newcomers - are building upon ideas that have been around for decades.

BBC

In keeping with this, building upon knowledge that iron and Cu metabolism are closely linked [ 75], Cu availability has been shown to contribute to iron perturbations in adults with NAFLD.

BioMed Research International

These results confirm that building upon field methods that included selecting a diversity of microhabitat and then more liberally including specimens for molecular analysis was most successful in characterizing diversity in this system.

BMC Ecology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "building upon that", ensure the connection to the previous idea is clear. Use transitional words like 'therefore', 'consequently', or 'furthermore' to enhance the flow.

Common error

Avoid using "building upon that" without a clear reference to what 'that' refers to. Ambiguity can confuse the reader; always ensure the antecedent is explicitly stated or easily inferred from the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "building upon that" functions as a prepositional phrase, specifically an adjunct, modifying a verb or clause. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "building upon that" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate the continuation or expansion of a previously mentioned idea or action. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is most commonly found in news and media and scientific contexts, suggesting a formal or neutral register. When using this phrase, ensure the connection to the preceding information is clear to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "expanding on that" or "developing further from that" can offer subtle variations in meaning. While relatively uncommon, its appropriate use can effectively link ideas and enhance the flow of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expanding on that

Changes the verb to "expand" indicating a broadening of scope rather than a structural addition.

developing further from that

Emphasizes the process of growth and advancement from a specific starting point.

taking that as a foundation

Highlights the role of the previous element as a base for future development.

leveraging that to advance

Focuses on using a previous advantage to make progress.

using that as a springboard

Implies that a previous element provides momentum for something new.

capitalizing on that

Highlights exploiting a previous advantage for one's own benefit.

progressing from that point

Focuses on the act of moving forward after a specific stage.

advancing from that

Highlights the progression and development from a specific starting point.

extending from that

Signifies an outreach or broadening of an initial aspect.

elaborating on that

Focuses on providing more detail and clarification to a previous point.

FAQs

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

You can use "building upon that" to show how an idea or action progresses from something previously mentioned. For example, "The first phase was successful; "building upon that", we can now proceed to the next stage."

What are some alternatives to "building upon that"?

Some alternatives include "expanding on that", "developing further from that", or "taking that as a foundation", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "building upon that" formal or informal?

"Building upon that" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness largely depends on the overall tone and style of your writing.

What is the difference between "building upon that" and "based on that"?

"Building upon that" implies an additive process, where something new is constructed on top of an existing foundation. "Based on that" simply indicates that something is derived or originates from a particular source or idea, without necessarily adding to it.