expands on

USAGE SUMMARY

"expands on" is a perfectly valid and acceptable phrase in written English.
You can use "expands on" when you want to talk about something that has been given more detail or discussed further. For example, "The author expands on his point by providing additional evidence to support the claim."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This show expands on his project.

The New York Times - Arts

Schrad's book expands on this theme.

The New Yorker

John expands on this: "It's not optional.

The Guardian - Business

It expands on what he said in his tweet.

The Guardian

Faulk expands on the initial design of each play.

The New York Times - Sports

Art expands on that and makes the Venetian stand out".

The Economist

His new memoir expands on the account he gave me.

The New York Times

Joe Biden expands on Paul Ryan's "young guns" metaphor.

The Economist

The first act takes place in 1959 and expands on a subplot from the Hansberry play.

The Guardian

(He expands on that argument in his book called "Virtually Normal).

The New Yorker

The book expands on recipes first presented on Ms. Trilling's public television series.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "expands on" when you want to indicate that you are providing more detail or explanation about a specific topic or idea that has already been introduced. It suggests a continuation and development of a thought or argument.

Common error

While "expands on" is a useful phrase, avoid overusing it in a single piece of writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "elaborates", "details further", or "provides more detail about" to keep your writing engaging and prevent it from becoming repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expands on" functions as a phrasal verb, specifically a verb followed by a preposition. It indicates the action of providing more details, explanations, or information about a previously mentioned subject. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a perfectly valid and acceptable phrase in written English. Examples provided by Ludwig show its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

53%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "expands on" is a common and grammatically sound phrasal verb used to indicate the provision of further detail or explanation about a topic. As Ludwig AI verifies, it's a valid phrase applicable in various contexts, although varying language is recommended to avoid repetition. It appears most frequently in scientific and news media sources. When using "expands on", be sure to offer relevant and valuable details that enhance the reader's understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

elaborates on

Uses a different verb to convey the act of adding more detail.

details further

Replaces "expands" with "details" and uses "further" to indicate additional information.

provides more detail about

Offers a more descriptive alternative with a slightly different construction.

goes into greater depth on

Emphasizes the level of detail and analysis provided.

amplifies

Implies an increase in intensity and detail of the original statement.

supplies additional information on

Focuses on the addition of facts and data.

builds upon

Suggests the information is being added to a pre-existing foundation.

develops further

Highlights a progression or evolution of ideas.

illustrates with more examples

Indicates clarification with additional practical cases.

clarifies

Focuses on making something easier to understand by giving more details.

FAQs

How do I use "expands on" in a sentence?

Use "expands on" to indicate that you are providing more detail or explanation about something that has already been introduced. For example: "The author expands on the initial argument in the second chapter."

What can I say instead of "expands on"?

You can use alternatives like "elaborates on", "details further", or "provides more detail about" depending on the context.

Is "expands on" formal or informal?

"Expands on" is suitable for both formal and informal writing. Its appropriateness depends more on the overall tone and context of your writing than on the phrase itself.

What's the difference between "expands on" and "builds upon"?

"Expands on" suggests providing more detail about an existing idea, while "builds upon" implies adding new ideas or arguments to an existing foundation. The choice depends on whether you are adding detail or constructing something new.