carry up

USAGE SUMMARY

"carry up" is not correct and usable in written English.
Instead, you would use the phrase "carry up to" to indicate a greater extent or an increase in something. For example, "We need to carry up to the extra cost of the new equipment."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The 787s carry up to 250 people.

The New York Times

The plane can carry up to 800 passengers.

The New York Times

Predator drones can carry up to two Hellfire missiles.

The Washington Post

One vehicle could carry up to 25 troops at once.

The Washington Post

The boat can carry up to 49 passengers.

The New York Times

Whom does it carry up to meet the President-elect?

The New Yorker

It could initially carry up to 100 passengers, he said.

The Guardian - Tech

Inside, three rows of seats carry up to eight people.

The New York Times

We carry up an extensive experimentation with 225 symmetrical instances to evaluate our procedures.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

Lighting circuits in the home normally carry up to 15 amps, although there may be some appliance circuits wired to carry up to 20 amps.

The New York Times

The double-decker design of the plane allows it to carry up to 850 people.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a maximum capacity, use "carry up to" followed by a specific number or quantity. For example, "The vehicle can carry up to six passengers."

Common error

Avoid using "carry up" in contexts where you simply mean to transport something upwards. Use more appropriate verbs like "lift", "raise", or "transport" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "carry up" functions primarily as a phrasal verb, often used to indicate the action of transporting something to a higher place. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect, suggesting that "carry up to" is the more appropriate construction when indicating a maximum capacity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

25%

Wiki

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "carry up" appears frequently in various contexts, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect for general use. The correct usage is typically "carry up to", which specifies a maximum limit or capacity. The phrase appears most often in news, media, scientific and wiki contexts. For general upward movement, consider alternatives such as "lift", "raise", or "transport". It is important to note that source authority does not guarantee grammatical correctness, and careful attention should be paid to the intended meaning and proper usage of the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

carry up to

Indicates a limit or maximum quantity that can be carried, rather than the act of carrying upward itself. The use of "carry up to" implies a maximum capacity or extent.

carry to a higher level

Specifies that the action of carrying results in elevation to a higher position.

transport upward

Focuses specifically on the movement of carrying something in an upward direction.

build upwards

Emphasizes the construction aspect of extending something vertically.

convey higher

Highlights the act of transporting something to a higher level or place.

ascend with

Suggests moving upwards while also transporting something else along.

extend vertically

Focuses on the act of making something longer in an upward direction.

bring up

This alternative suggests raising a topic or introducing something, differing from physical transportation.

raise aloft

This implies lifting something high into the air, often with a sense of ceremony or display.

hoist up

Implies lifting something heavy or bulky with the aid of ropes or machinery.

FAQs

How should I use "carry up to" correctly in a sentence?

Use "carry up to" when you want to specify the maximum amount or extent something can hold or reach. For example, "The plane can "carry up to" 800 passengers" indicates the plane's maximum capacity.

What can I say instead of "carry up" to describe moving something higher?

Instead of "carry up", you can use verbs such as "lift", "raise", or "elevate" to describe the action of moving something to a higher position.

Is it correct to say "carry up" instead of "carry upstairs"?

While "carry up" might be understood in some contexts, it's more precise and grammatically sound to use "carry upstairs" when referring to transporting something to a higher floor in a building.

What's the difference between "carry up to" and "carry on"?

"Carry up to" indicates a maximum limit or capacity, as in "This bag can carry up to 20 pounds". "Carry on", on the other hand, means to continue doing something or to proceed, such as "Please carry on with your work".