built up by

USAGE SUMMARY

"built up by" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
It is a verb phrase that means "assembled gradually over time," and can be used in a variety of contexts. For example, you could say: "The company's reputation was gradually built up by careful stewardship and thoughtful decisions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But either could apply to sovereign wealth funds, the investment portfolios built up by national governments.

The Economist

Polypropylene, a synthetic resin built up by the polymerization of propylene.

Encyclopedia Britannica

These victories were achieved largely by the new cavalry force built up by Nicephorus Phocas.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Built up by accretions of snowfall, it remains relatively stable for millions of years.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The goodwill built up by years of attractive football was severely depleted by 120 sorry minutes.

The Guardian - Sport

"He always said Times Square was meant to be built up by the community.

The New York Times - Magazine

"It is a country that was built up by immigrants," he said of his northern neighbor.

The New York Times

The mood built up by the film might almost be called nostalgic.

The New York Times

The distillation of the sounds that we had built up by that time.

The Guardian - Music

Part of the vast collections built up by Arthur M. Sackler were among the offerings.

The New York Times - Arts

A questionnaire was built up by intensivists and nurses.

Annals of Intensive Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "built up by" to emphasize a gradual accumulation or formation process. For example, "The city's wealth was built up by generations of entrepreneurs."

Common error

While "built up by" is grammatically correct, overuse of passive voice can make your writing sound weak. Consider rephrasing to use active voice for a more direct and engaging style. For example, instead of "The dam was built up by the engineers", try "The engineers built up the dam".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "built up by" functions as a passive construction, indicating how something has been gradually created or formed. Ludwig AI examples show it used to describe various processes across different domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

37%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "built up by" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction used to describe the gradual development or formation of something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various contexts, ranging from scientific literature to news articles. With a very common usage frequency, it's important to understand its function as a passive construction, highlighting the agent or process responsible for the buildup. While it is generally acceptable, overuse of passive voice should be avoided for stronger writing. Alternatives like "constructed by", "formed by", or "developed by" can provide nuanced variations depending on the specific context. The phrase appears most frequently in scientific and news media sources, and its neutral register makes it appropriate for both formal and informal communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

constructed by

Focuses on the act of building or assembling something.

formed by

Emphasizes the process of taking shape or being created.

created by

Highlights the origin or source of something.

developed by

Suggests a gradual process of growth or evolution.

established by

Implies setting something up or founding it through a specific means.

generated by

Focuses on the production or creation of something, often in a technical context.

assembled by

Highlights the act of putting together different parts.

produced by

Emphasizes the outcome of a process or action.

cultivated by

Implies careful nurturing or development.

shaped by

Focuses on the influence or molding of something.

FAQs

How can I use "built up by" in a sentence?

Use "built up by" to describe something that has been gradually accumulated or constructed over time. For instance, "The community spirit was "fostered by" collaborative projects".

What are some alternatives to "built up by"?

Alternatives include phrases like "constructed by", "formed by", or "developed by", depending on the specific context.

Is "built up by" formal or informal?

"Built up by" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though in very formal writing, you might prefer a more sophisticated synonym such as "established through" or "cultivated through".

Which is correct, "built up by" or "build up by"?

"Built up by" is the past participle form, used to describe something that has already been constructed or accumulated. "Build up by" is not grammatically correct in most contexts; consider using "builds upon" or "builds from" instead.