construct upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "construct upon" is not standard in written English; the correct expression is "build upon." You can use it when referring to developing or expanding an idea, concept, or structure based on something that already exists.
Example: "We can construct upon the foundation laid by previous research to develop new theories."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Second, the essay argued against what he called the dogma of reductionism, or "the belief," as he put it, "that each meaningful statement is equivalent to some logical construct upon terms which refer to immediate experience".

The New York Times - Arts

And, given that the world is in causal flux and does not accord with any conceptual construct, every duality imposes a false construct upon the world.

SEP

To evaluate our solutions, we develop an NS-3 implementation of the IEEE 802.11ad protocol, which we construct upon preliminary 60GHz channel measurements.

Computer Communications

In Quine's "Two Dogmas of Empiricism," the second dogma is reductionism, the belief that "each meaningful statement is equivalent to some construct upon terms which refer to immediate experience" (1953, 20).

SEP

In RIT with 227Th the distribution of free daughter nuclides also has to be considered, as the daughter nuclide 223Ra detaches from the DOTA-trastuzumab construct upon alpha-particle emission from 227Th.

EJNMMI Research

We investigated the use of ultrasound-guided photoacoustic (US/PA) imaging as a technique to visualize the distribution of microvascular endothelial cells within an optimized acellular construct upon re-endothelialization and perfusion conditioning.

Acta Biomaterialia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

We are constructed upon that.

The New Yorker

Her Harry Potter books are constructed upon these values.

The Guardian - Opinion

Could brightly painted wooden huts be constructed upon them, and rented out as budget cruise accommodation, providing a much-needed new income source for the MoD?

The Guardian

There, and at the many city playgrounds that were later constructed upon the same lines, phys ed was favored over fantasy.

The New Yorker

Moreover, President Bush's plan to use military tribunals further underscores a disconcerting redefinition of democratic values in a country constructed upon, and fighting for, such principles.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to convey the idea of expanding on an existing idea or concept, opt for established alternatives like "develop upon", "expand upon", or "elaborate upon".

Common error

Many writers incorrectly use "construct upon" thinking it's a formal alternative to "build upon". However, "build upon" is the idiomatic and grammatically correct choice. Using "construct upon" may sound awkward or incorrect to native English speakers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "construct upon" functions as a verb phrase followed by a preposition, aiming to express the idea of creating or developing something based on an existing foundation. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, it's not the standard English expression for this concept.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

22%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "construct upon" might seem like a valid way to express the idea of building or developing something on an existing foundation, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI explains, the preferred alternative is "build upon". Although instances of "construct upon" can be found in scientific and news sources, it's less common and may sound awkward. For clarity and correctness, it's best to opt for more established alternatives like "develop upon", "expand upon", or "elaborate upon". Therefore, exercise caution when using "construct upon", and consider if a more idiomatic alternative would enhance your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

build upon

Uses a more common and grammatically preferred verb for establishing something new on an existing idea.

develop upon

Emphasizes the aspect of growth and advancement from a starting point.

expand upon

Highlights the act of increasing the scope or detail of something already in place.

elaborate upon

Focuses on providing more details and clarification to an existing concept.

base upon

Indicates that something is fundamentally reliant on a particular foundation.

found upon

Suggests a strong and stable basis for subsequent development.

hinge upon

Implies that something is critically dependent on a particular aspect.

depend upon

Highlights the reliance of one thing on another for its existence or success.

rest upon

Indicates a sense of stability and support provided by the foundation.

establish upon

Focuses on the act of setting up or creating a secure base for further development.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "construct upon"?

The preferred and more common alternative is "build upon". It conveys the same meaning of developing or expanding something from a base or foundation.

How can I use "build upon" instead of "construct upon" in a sentence?

Instead of saying "We can construct upon the existing framework", say "We can build upon the existing framework".

What's the difference between "construct" and "build" in the context of expanding ideas?

While "construct" generally means to create or form something, "build" in the phrase "build upon" specifically implies adding to or developing something that already exists. "Build upon" is the idiomatic choice for this meaning.

Are there other phrases similar to "build upon" that I can use?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "develop upon", "expand upon", or "elaborate upon" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.