builds upon itself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "builds upon itself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a process or concept that develops or evolves by adding layers or elements to what has already been established. Example: "The theory of evolution builds upon itself, incorporating new discoveries and insights over time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

"Obviously, confidence builds upon itself," said Furyk, who tied for ninth at the Canadian Open.

The New York Times - Sports

Systematic Conservation Planning is a flexible, recursive process that builds upon itself to continuously allow room for improvement.

Encyclopedia of the Anthropocene

Improving these deficiencies will allow future studies to perform equitable and comparable assessments, thus creating a synergistic set of literature that continuously builds upon itself rather than generates independent and isolated conclusions.

Resources, Conservation and Recycling

Content builds upon itself, they say.

Forbes

The result is somewhat magical, where momentum builds upon itself.

TechCrunch

Even though it happens slowly at first, it's relentless and it builds upon itself.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

It built upon itself like an avalanche.

The New York Times - Sports

It's really funny the way all of that non-neurotypical, "Aspie" stuff has built upon itself to get me here.

The Guardian

The model shows how knowledge can build upon itself in a combinatoric feedback process that may have significant implications for economic growth.

Harvard University

He missed the birdie putt, but the iron shot gave him the impetus he needed to continue what became a full-on assault on the course, a round that "just kind of built upon itself," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

The ideal bedtime story, according to Nitun Verma, a national spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, is one that "doesn't build upon itself," like a movie "with a lot of parallel stories that don't connect at the end".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "builds upon itself", ensure that the context clearly establishes the sequential and dependent nature of the elements involved.

Common error

Avoid using "builds upon itself" when the elements are independent or do not have a clear sequential relationship. The phrase implies a dependence on previous stages, so ensure this connection is evident.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "builds upon itself" functions as a verb phrase indicating a process of incremental development. Ludwig AI shows it is used to describe how things grow or evolve through successive additions or improvements. It's frequently used to explain how various processes become more complex or effective over time.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "builds upon itself" effectively describes a process where progress is incremental and each step relies on the previous one. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use across various fields, especially in News & Media, Science, and Academia. When writing, ensure that the context highlights this sequential relationship. While alternatives like "accumulates" or "progresses iteratively" exist, they may not always capture the same sense of structured development. The phrase is useful for explanations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

develops successively

Highlights that progress occurs sequentially

progresses iteratively

Highlights the step-by-step nature of the development, more explicitly than the original.

expands incrementally

Focuses on the gradual growth in size or scope.

is based on what came before

Simple and direct way to say it depends on the previous knowledge.

accumulates

Implies a gradual increase in quantity or amount, differing from building which suggests structure.

relies on prior foundations

Emphasizes the dependence on established elements as a base.

grows additively

Emphasizes that it grows by adding something.

compounds

Suggests a multiplying effect, where each addition enhances the previous state.

takes its cue from what has already happened

Emphasizes that future actions respond to past events.

escalates

Indicates a rapid or dramatic increase in intensity or scope.

FAQs

How can I use "builds upon itself" in a sentence?

You can use "builds upon itself" to describe a process or concept where each step or element adds to the previous one, creating a cumulative effect. For example, "The success of the project "builds upon itself" as each milestone is achieved".

What are some alternatives to "builds upon itself"?

Some alternatives include "accumulates", "compounds", or "progresses iteratively". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "built upon itself" instead of "builds upon itself"?

"Built upon itself" is the past tense form, while "builds upon itself" is the present tense. Use "built upon itself" when referring to something that has already happened. For example, "The company's reputation was "built upon itself" over many years of reliable service".

What's the difference between "builds upon itself" and "expands incrementally"?

"Builds upon itself" emphasizes the sequential addition of elements, creating a cumulative effect, while "expands incrementally" focuses on the gradual growth in size or scope. "Expands incrementally" might be suitable when discussing a project's scope, while "builds upon itself" is better for describing a process.