expound upon

USAGE SUMMARY

"expound upon" is a correct phrase and is commonly used in written English.
It means to explain or discuss something in detail. Example: In his essay, the author expounds upon the concept of love and its various interpretations throughout history.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

What those policies should be, Sageman didn't expound upon.

The Guardian

–Expound upon the group's theme as it relates to the folk tale.

The New York Times

Cameron will happily travel anywhere to expound upon his three great passions: marine and space exploration, and technology.

The Guardian - Film

He then took a moment to expound upon kibble's drawbacks, among them tooth decay, bad breath and gas.

The New York Times

Rosa's answer would expound upon what little her niece had learned in her history textbooks at school – that all Parks did was simply sit down on the bus.

The Guardian - Books

A mysterious rule operates by which a five-year-old boy, however much he enjoys his school day, is unable to expound upon it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

Maybe the president was expounding upon the Nickelodeon Ethics.

The New York Times

This idea is expounded upon in his book.

The New Yorker

theorists expounding upon the dangers and benefits of alien abductions.

The New Yorker

Even so, they are not issues that are worth expounding upon here.

The Guardian - Opinion

And he expounded upon what he called his moth theory, that people are attracted to light.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "expound upon" when you want to convey a sense of thorough and detailed explanation. It's especially fitting in formal writing or when addressing complex topics.

Common error

While "expound upon" is correct, it can sound pretentious in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "elaborate" or "explain" when speaking informally.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "expound upon" primarily functions as a verb phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct. It indicates a detailed explanation or discussion of a topic.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

34%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "expound upon" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrasal verb that means to explain something in detail. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While versatile, it leans towards formal and scientific registers, finding frequent application in news media, scientific publications, and encyclopedic content. When opting for alternatives, consider context and formality to maintain the appropriate tone. Common synonyms include "elaborate on", "go into detail about", and "expand on". Remember to avoid overuse in informal settings to prevent sounding pretentious. The linguistic analysis indicates a purpose of thorough explanation, emphasizing the depth and clarity that the phrase brings to communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

elaborate on

More concise and commonly used in everyday conversation.

go into detail about

Emphasizes the depth of explanation.

expand on

Focuses on broadening the scope of the discussion.

amplify

Suggests increasing the intensity or importance of the explanation.

flesh out

Implies adding substance and detail to a previously bare outline.

detail

A more succinct way of saying something will be explained.

discuss at length

Highlights the duration of the explanation.

comment further on

Suggests providing additional remarks or insights.

offer a detailed explanation of

Formal and emphasizes the comprehensiveness of the explanation.

give a thorough account of

Highlights completeness and accuracy of the provided information.

FAQs

How to use "expound upon" in a sentence?

You can use "expound upon" to indicate that someone is explaining something in detail, such as, "The professor will "expound upon" the theories of relativity during the lecture."

What can I say instead of "expound upon"?

You can use alternatives like "elaborate on", "go into detail about", or "expand on" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "expound on" or "expound upon"?

Both "expound on" and "expound upon" are grammatically correct and have the same meaning. However, "expound upon" is often considered more formal and emphatic.

What's the difference between "expound upon" and "explain"?

"Expound upon" implies a more detailed and thorough explanation than simply "explain". "Explain" is a more general term, while ""expound upon"" suggests a comprehensive and possibly persuasive presentation of information.