expanding upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "expanding upon" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to elaborate or provide more detail on a particular topic or idea. Example: "In my presentation, I will be expanding upon the key findings of our research to provide a clearer understanding of the implications."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mr. Jacobs was really expanding upon the current silhouette.

The New York Times

Yet in expanding upon the mysterious potential of the earlier duet, the new one disenchants.

The New York Times - Arts

Both processes start by expanding upon the basic control previously established from geodetic surveys.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In a sense his career has been a process of self-liberation by expanding upon an esoteric mode that he helped invent.

The New York Times

It is unclear what action Trump could take against Amazon, with the president-elect not expanding upon his threats with specific policies.

The Guardian - Tech

"The real trick is to retain what is best in American health care while correcting its deficiencies and expanding upon its indisputable benefits," he said.

The New Yorker

The proposals, if approved, would amend the state law by essentially incorporating several of the city exemptions, and in some cases, expanding upon them.

The New York Times

Expanding upon 2012's market, almost 6m tablets were sold in the first half of 2013, and demand is expected to accelerate into Christmas.

The Guardian - Tech

Microsoft will certainly be expanding upon this initial launch with a follow-up at E3, and Sony too will be releasing more info about their console in June.

Independent

The company filed for bankruptcy in 2010, prompting K.K.R.'s special situations team to consider expanding upon a small investment in the retailer's debt.

The New York Times

And hoteliers and established restaurateurs have approached them about translating what they're doing or expanding upon it in an additional restaurant, one with deeper pockets and more seats.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure clarity by specifying what you are "expanding upon". Avoid vague statements and provide context to help the reader understand the connection.

Common error

Avoid using "expanding upon" too frequently in a single piece of writing. Vary your language by using synonyms such as "elaborating on", "building on", or "developing further" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expanding upon" functions as a prepositional verb phrase, often used to indicate the act of providing more details, explanations, or developments related to a previously mentioned topic. As shown in Ludwig, it connects the action of expanding to the subject being discussed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "expanding upon" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase that effectively signals the act of elaborating or building upon existing information. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it finds application across diverse fields like news, science, and encyclopedias, indicating its versatility. While "expanding upon" is deemed correct, varying your writing with synonyms such as "elaborating on" or "building on" can enhance reader engagement. As Ludwig AI suggests, its formality makes it suitable for various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

elaborating on

A more direct and common synonym for providing more detail.

building upon

Emphasizes the creation of a foundation and subsequent additions.

developing upon

Highlights the gradual growth and evolution of an idea.

expounding on

Suggests a detailed and thorough explanation.

improving upon

Focuses specifically on enhancing or refining something already in place.

advancing upon

Suggests progress and forward movement in the elaboration.

amplifying on

Focuses on increasing the intensity or impact of an idea.

spreading upon

Implies a broader, more diffuse elaboration.

extending from

Implies a continuation or outgrowth from a starting point.

augmenting with

Suggests adding something extra to enhance the original.

FAQs

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

Use "expanding upon" to indicate that you are providing more details or elaborating on a previously mentioned topic. For example, "In this section, I will be "expanding upon" the research methodology."

What are some alternatives to "expanding upon"?

You can use alternatives like "elaborating on", "building on", "developing further", or "adding to" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "expanding upon" or "expanding on"?

"Expanding upon" is generally preferred in more formal writing, while "expanding on" is considered more informal. Both are grammatically correct, but "expanding upon" carries a slightly more sophisticated tone.

What's the difference between "expanding upon" and "elaborating on"?

While both phrases mean to provide more detail, "expanding upon" suggests a broadening or extending of the original idea, while "elaborating on" focuses more on clarifying or providing additional explanation.