expand off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "expand off" is not correct in standard written English.
It is often misused; the correct expression is "expand on." Example: "Can you expand on your ideas during the meeting?"

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The Merc has been eager to expand off its traditional strength in interest-rate futures trading.

Forbes

There are tough times ahead for the economy, but our listenership is growing rapidly, the Internet radio royalty rate resolution seems finally near, and the explosion of mobile devices like the iPhone are opening up a world of opportunity for internet radio to expand off the desktop.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

He said he also hoped to expand off-farm jobs in rural America.

The New York Times

The money will also help expand off-street parking and create a neighborhood park, the state Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency said.

The New York Times

The owners of Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto bought the lease in 2002 but sold the money-losing operation to the Great Canadian Gaming Corporation two years later because it could not expand off-track betting or get a casino license.

The New York Times - Sports

As for his drive before the spill to expand off-shore drilling, he said he still thinks he was right and that more oil will be needed until enough alternative fuels can be developed.

The New York Times

Still, a glimmer of environmental hope has come from the unlikely source of Californian governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who withdrew his support to expand off-shore exploration off California's coast in the wake of the BP oil spill.

The Guardian - Opinion

David Levy, a principal at Adams & Company, which includes two commercial buildings on West 33rd Street in the 27-building Manhattan portfolio it manages for an investor, said, "It has become such a vibrant area that tenants are expanding off of 32nd Street".

The New York Times

Klarna is not actively looking to raise a new equity round at the moment: the company has had "consistently solid profitability" for years now, and appears to be expanding off its balance sheet.

TechCrunch

You adjust and perhaps move to a related field, continuing to learn more about yourself, but always expanding off your skill base.

Huffington Post

When you look at each artists work you see the influence that Jerome has on Jeromyah and subsequently how Jeromyah adds a new layer and commentary expanding off his father's work.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "expand on" instead of "expand off" to express the idea of providing more details or information about a topic. For example, "Could you expand on your proposal?" is correct.

Common error

Avoid using "off" when you intend to convey the meaning of elaborating or providing additional information. "Expand on" is the grammatically correct choice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expand off" is intended to function as a verb phrase, often misused to mean to elaborate or extend from something. However, Ludwig AI identifies this usage as incorrect in standard English. The correct form to express elaboration is "expand on."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "expand off" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, the correct and preferred phrase is "expand on" when the intention is to elaborate or provide more detail. While "expand off" appears in various sources, its usage is infrequent and should be avoided in formal writing. Instead, consider using alternatives such as "elaborate on", "develop further", or similar phrases to convey your intended meaning accurately.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expand on

Focuses on providing more detail about a topic.

elaborate on

Stresses the act of adding more information and clarity.

build upon

Highlights the idea of using something as a foundation for further development.

extend from

Indicates a physical or conceptual expansion outward.

branch out from

Emphasizes diversifying from an original point or activity.

develop from

Suggests gradual growth and transformation from an initial state.

augment with

Highlights the addition of something to enhance or improve.

broaden from

Emphasizes widening the scope or range of something.

increase from

Denotes a quantitative growth originating from a specific level.

grow out of

Indicates a natural progression and development beyond initial constraints.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use the phrase "expand on"?

The correct usage is to follow "expand on" with the subject you are elaborating. For example, "Let's "expand on" the details of the project" is correct, whereas "expand off" is not.

What can I say instead of "expand off"?

Since "expand off" is grammatically incorrect, use alternatives such as "elaborate on", "develop further", or "provide more details".

How does "expand on" differ from "elaborate on"?

Both ""expand on"" and "elaborate on" suggest providing more information. "Elaborate" often implies adding more complexity or detail, while "expand" simply suggests increasing the scope or breadth of the information.

Is "expand off" ever correct in any context?

While the phrase "expand off" appears in some sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect in standard English. It's advisable to use ""expand on"" or another suitable alternative.