expands upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "expands upon" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone is providing additional information or elaboration on a particular topic or idea. Example: "In her essay, she expands upon the main themes of the novel, providing deeper insights into the characters' motivations."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The account that follows expands upon the latter interpretation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

While stunningly successful in encapsulating the moment, she rarely expands upon the assumed identity.

The Guardian - Music

Puranic cosmogony greatly expands upon the complex cosmogonies of the Brahmanas, Upanishads, and epics.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This article expands upon his speech at Stanford University on November 6th.

The Economist

The second is the low-Earth orbit model: this expands upon the currently inhabited region of space.

The Guardian

He neither imitates nor ignores the Iranian visual lexicon, but rather makes it his own and expands upon it.

The Guardian

expands upon it by linking a veteran hip-hop group with a dance D.J. for a whole album.

The New York Times - Arts

With eight multiplayer modes and a handful of great maps, Respawn expands upon the relative barebones of the original game.

The Guardian - Tech

In writing this book, Fadl also expands upon the heresy of takfir — the excommunication of one Muslim by another.

The New Yorker

The entire cast, which includes Michael Trusnovec, Orion Duckstein, Amy Young and Robert Kleinendorst, expands upon the motif.

The New York Times - Arts

"Shadow Pool" expands upon and then explodes this mythology, holding up the shards for our sensory pleasure, and confusion.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "expands upon" to clearly indicate that you are providing additional details or insights on a topic already introduced. This helps readers understand the progression of your argument or explanation.

Common error

Avoid using "expands upon" simply as a filler phrase. Ensure that what follows genuinely adds new perspectives, data, or analysis to the initial point; otherwise, consider using a simpler connective phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expands upon" functions as a verb phrase indicating that something is being elaborated or developed further. Ludwig AI's analysis and examples show its common use in academic, news, and general writing to introduce additional details or insights.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "expands upon" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase that indicates the elaboration or development of an existing idea. Ludwig AI's analysis, based on a wide range of sources, reveals that it's most frequently used in News & Media and Science contexts, maintaining a neutral to formal tone. Alternatives like "elaborates on" or "builds on" can be used to express similar meanings. While the phrase is generally versatile, it's important to ensure that it introduces substantive new information rather than serving as a mere filler. The wide array of examples and the positive assessment of Ludwig AI underscore its validity and utility in formal and professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

elaborates on

Focuses more on providing greater detail and clarification.

builds on

Emphasizes the idea of using existing information as a foundation for further development.

develops further

Highlights the progressive and evolving nature of the elaboration.

amplifies

Suggests an increase in intensity or scope of the original subject.

augments

Implies adding something to improve or enhance the original.

details further

Highlights the addition of more specific information.

expounds on

Indicates a more formal and thorough explanation.

adds detail to

Simply indicates the addition of more specific information.

enlarges upon

Suggests making something bigger or more extensive in scope.

supplements

Focuses on adding something extra to complete or enhance.

FAQs

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

The phrase "expands upon" is used to indicate that something is being elaborated or developed further. For example, "This article "expands upon" his speech at Stanford University."

What are some alternatives to "expands upon"?

You can use alternatives such as "elaborates on", "builds on", or "develops further" to express the idea of providing more detail.

Is it correct to say "expand on" instead of "expands upon"?

While "expand on" is grammatically correct and frequently used, "expands upon" often suggests a more thorough and detailed elaboration. The choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

What is the difference between "expands upon" and "supplements"?

"Expands upon" implies a detailed development of an existing idea, while "supplements" suggests adding extra information to complete or enhance the original idea. They are similar but have slightly different nuances.