increase up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "increase up" is not correct and is generally considered redundant in written English.
You can use it when trying to express the idea of raising or boosting something, but it is better to avoid this phrasing. Example: "We need to increase up our sales figures this quarter."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The luxury tax would increase up to 70percentt on teams with payrolls over $60 million.

The New York Times

Effective tax rates may increase up to 93p in the pound.

The Guardian - Money

Women in Scotland showed the fastest rate of increase, up 12% compared with 2014.

The Guardian

Its price increase, up from 90p to £1, will surely have had an effect.

The Guardian

The sensitivity of the sensor with this addition was shown to increase up to 4 times.

4M 2006 - Second International Conference on Multi-Material Micro Manufacture

Without action the IMO predicts that by 2020, emissions from ships would increase up to 72%.

The Guardian

Lidl had the second biggest sales increase, up 5.8% year on year.

The Guardian - Business

Addition of acetate allowed the current density values to increase up to 545 mA/m2.

Electrochimica Acta

The fracture conductivity within the proppant pillar can increase up to several folds.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

During individual years however, their contribution can strongly increase (up to 27% in 2011).

Journal of Hydrology

Over Africa its intensity can sometimes increase up to 80% relative to other longitudes.

Advances in Space Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a rise in quantity or value, use "increase" alone. The word already implies upward movement, making "increase up" redundant.

Common error

Be mindful of using "increase up" in formal writing. Opt for just "increase" to maintain clarity and conciseness. For example, instead of saying "prices increase up to 10%", say "prices increase up to 10%."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "increase up" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to describe a rise in quantity, degree, or intensity. Although widely used, as shown in Ludwig's examples, it's considered grammatically incorrect due to redundancy.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "increase up" is frequently used across various contexts, particularly in science and news, it is grammatically incorrect due to redundancy. As Ludwig AI's analysis indicated, the word "increase" already implies an upward movement. Therefore, it's best to avoid using "increase up" in formal writing and instead opt for alternatives like "increase", "rise", or "grow" for greater clarity and precision. Although common, prioritizing grammatical correctness enhances the credibility and professionalism of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rise

Focuses solely on the upward movement or elevation, removing the redundancy of 'up'.

grow

Indicates an expansion or development, similar to increasing, without the need for 'up'.

escalate

Suggests a rapid or significant increase, implying upward movement more strongly than 'increase'.

augment

Emphasizes the addition or enhancement, conveying the idea of making something bigger or greater.

elevate

Highlights the act of raising something to a higher position or level.

amplify

Implies making something louder, stronger, or more intense, often used in technical contexts.

boost

Suggests a sudden or quick increase, often used in the context of performance or morale.

enlarge

Focuses on making something bigger in size or scope.

expand

Indicates an increase in size, volume, or extent.

heighten

Suggests making something more intense or pronounced, often used for emotions or senses.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "increase up"?

No, the phrase "increase up" is generally considered redundant. The word "increase" already implies an upward direction or growth. Therefore, it's better to simply use "increase".

What can I say instead of "increase up"?

Instead of "increase up", you can use alternatives like "rise", "grow", or "escalate" depending on the context. These words convey the same meaning without being redundant.

When is it acceptable to use "increase up"?

While "increase up" is often used in informal speech, it's generally best to avoid it in formal writing. Using just "increase" or a more precise synonym ensures clarity and grammatical correctness.

What's the difference between "increase" and "increase up"?

The phrase "increase" and "increase up" technically mean the same thing. However, "increase up" is redundant because "increase" inherently means to go up. Therefore, sticking to just "increase" is more grammatically sound and less awkward.