draws upon

USAGE SUMMARY

"draws upon" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It usually means to use something as a source of information or inspiration. For example, "The author draws upon her personal experiences when writing her novel."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(The data he draws upon are here).

The New York Times

Browne draws upon Lauren's ethos of classicism and tailoring.

The Washington Post

The performance draws upon some of that same footage.

The New York Times - Arts

The inspiration draws upon Bobby Jones and Augusta National.

The New York Times - Sports

Our analysis draws upon disparate data sources to compile projections.

Journal of Great Lakes Research

Ideally, a syllabus draws upon several of these characterizations.

Yale University

For this purpose, the paper draws upon Michel Foucault's work on biopolitics and neoliberalism.

Accounting, Organizations and Society

It draws upon the literatures concerning memory, impression management and effective graph design.

International Journal of Accounting Information Systems

The paper draws upon empirical material from a two year qualitative research project.

Teaching and Teacher Education

SeRUM draws upon semantic functional model representations of design concepts and computer science semantic relatedness techniques.

Advanced Engineering Informatics

The author draws upon her childhood in the early 1990s to create a lively historic tale.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing academically or professionally, use "draws upon" to indicate that your work is informed by specific sources or theories. This adds credibility and demonstrates a foundation of knowledge.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "draws upon" can sound overly formal in casual writing. Consider using simpler alternatives like "uses" or "relies on" to maintain a conversational tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "draws upon" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of utilizing something as a resource or basis. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. For example, "The author draws upon her personal history" demonstrates this.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

34%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "draws upon" is a verb phrase used to indicate reliance on specific sources or methods. It is grammatically correct and most appropriate in formal contexts like science, news, and academia. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a usable phrase in written English. While there are simpler alternatives like "uses" or "relies on", using "draws upon" adds a layer of formality and signals a considered approach to sourcing information. Remember to use this phrase to show credibility and give foundations of knowledge in your writing. The phrase's usage patterns indicate a strong presence in academic and scientific fields, demonstrating its importance in formal discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Relies on

Focuses on dependence as the primary action, shifting from active drawing to a state of reliance.

Utilizes

Highlights the practical application of something, emphasizing functionality.

Leverages

Implies strategic use to gain an advantage, adding a layer of purposefulness.

Makes use of

A more descriptive way of expressing that something is being used, emphasizing the action.

Builds on

Suggests using something as a foundation for further development.

Is based on

Indicates that something is fundamentally founded or predicated on a particular element.

Takes from

Emphasizes the act of obtaining or sourcing something, often implying a direct extraction.

Extracts from

Highlights a selective and often careful sourcing of information or material.

Derives from

Implies an origin or source from which something originates or stems.

Is informed by

Indicates that something is influenced or shaped by a particular element.

FAQs

How can I use "draws upon" in a sentence?

You can use "draws upon" to indicate that something uses or relies on a particular source or method. For example, "The research "draws upon" data from multiple studies."

What can I say instead of "draws upon"?

You can use alternatives like "relies on", "utilizes", or "is based on" depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to say "draws upon" rather than "uses"?

Yes, "draws upon" is generally more formal than "uses". While "uses" is perfectly acceptable in most contexts, "draws upon" suggests a more deliberate and considered reliance on a specific source or body of knowledge. Using "draws upon" often implies a deeper connection or integration with the source material.

What's the difference between "draws upon" and "builds upon"?

"Draws upon" indicates using existing information or resources as a source, whereas "builds upon" suggests taking existing ideas and expanding or developing them further. The former is about sourcing, the latter is about extending.