expand upon

USAGE SUMMARY

"expand upon" is a correct, usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to provide more details or further explanation of a certain topic. For example, "The professor asked us to expand upon our previous discussion of 19th-century literature."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We can expand upon the excellent projects aimed at getting women and girls into science.

The Guardian

There are some period pieces that turn to the past to expand upon thematic elements.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

And there is plenty of room to expand upon Obama's ideas.

The New Yorker

You have to think of something you want to say and expand upon it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"There's got to be something you can expand upon," he explains.

The Guardian

Davis Brody Bond has continued to expand upon our founding legacy of innovative and responsible design.

The New York Times - Arts

Did Mr. Fareri just do what developers do, see an opportunity and expand upon it?

The New York Times

Mr. Iger did not dispel that notion, but he would not expand upon it, either.

The New York Times

In fact, the reasons to expand upon it make good business sense in a downturned economy.

The Guardian - Opinion

These letters, showing Frost at home in metaphor, if nowhere else, expand upon that lesson.

The New Yorker

Sibley proposed to vastly expand upon Baylor's initial – if modest – success.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "expand upon" when you want to signal that you will provide more details or a deeper analysis of a previously mentioned topic. This helps guide the reader through your argument.

Common error

Don't use "expand upon" when a brief definition or restatement would be more appropriate. Sometimes, less is more; focus on clarity and conciseness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expand upon" functions as a phrasal verb used to indicate the act of providing more details, explanation, or development to a previously mentioned topic or idea. Ludwig provides many examples of its practical use in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "expand upon" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrasal verb widely used to indicate that more detail or explanation will be provided. As Ludwig's AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase. It finds frequent application in news, scientific, and business contexts, signaling a professional tone. When writing, remember that while "expand upon" is useful for adding depth, it's important to use it judiciously, opting for clarity and conciseness when a simpler explanation suffices. Consider alternatives such as "elaborate on" or "go into more detail" for slight nuance variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

elaborate on

Focuses on providing more details or clarification.

go into more detail

Emphasizes providing a more thorough explanation.

develop further

Highlights the act of advancing or evolving an idea.

expound on

Implies a more formal and detailed explanation.

amplify

Focuses on increasing the impact or significance of something.

flesh out

Suggests adding substance and detail to something previously incomplete.

build upon

Emphasizes using existing information as a foundation for further development.

dilate on

Refers to speaking or writing at length about a subject.

augment

Highlights the action of enhancing or improving something.

illustrate further

Focuses on providing examples to clarify an idea.

FAQs

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

You can use "expand upon" to indicate that you are going to provide more details or explanation. For example, "The speaker will "expand upon" the economic implications of the new policy".

What's an alternative to "expand upon"?

Alternatives include "elaborate on", "go into more detail", or "develop further" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "expand upon" in formal writing?

Yes, "expand upon" is suitable for formal writing. It is frequently found in academic, scientific, and business contexts, as shown by the examples in Ludwig.

What is the difference between "expand upon" and "elaborate on"?

While both phrases mean to provide more detail, "elaborate on" is generally used when providing clarification, whereas "expand upon" suggests building on an existing idea or argument.