increase upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "increase upon" is not standard in written English and may be considered incorrect.
It is typically used incorrectly when one intends to express an increase in quantity or value, but the correct phrase would be "increase by" or "increase in." Example: "The company's profits are expected to increase upon last year's figures."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The glutaminase activity has been shown to increase upon complex formation, yet the mechanism of this activation is unknown (15).

Biochemistry

Saturday's figure was a marked increase upon Friday's opening day attendance of 4,537.

The Guardian - Sport

Generally, AC conductivity tends to increase upon heating.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Both the MMP-9 protein levels and enzymatic activity strongly increase upon seizures.

Molecular and Cellular Pediatrics

The concentrations increase upon release and return to background concentration when the release stops.

Geochemical Transactions

For definitive diagnosis of CECS, compartment pressure increase upon exercise was needed.

Sports Medicine - Open

The percentage change in levels of ILs broadly showed an increase upon loading of MSIs.

Progress in Orthodontics

Buckling constants of silicene, germanene, and monolayer SiGe increase upon semihydrogenation.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Kinematic viscosity tends to increase upon further oxidation due to the formation of secondary oxidative product.

International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering

The experiments show that the dissolution as well as the oxide layer thickness increase upon radiation.

Radiation Physics and Chemistry

The intensity increase upon addition of Zn2+ is due to the coordination between Zn2+ and benzothiazole.

Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision in formal writing, substitute "increase upon" with more conventional phrases like "increase by" or "increase in" to avoid ambiguity and potential grammatical objections.

Common error

Many writers use "increase upon" aiming to convey a rise relative to something else. However, this can sound awkward or incorrect. Instead, use "increase by" to show the amount of increase or "increase in" to specify what is growing. For instance, instead of "profits increase upon last year's", use "profits increase by 10%" or "an increase in profits".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "increase upon" functions as a verb phrase with a preposition, typically suggesting a rise or growth concerning a specific reference point. As noted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is not considered standard English, despite its occurrence in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

80%

News & Media

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "increase upon" is frequently encountered, particularly in scientific and news media, it is often flagged as grammatically questionable. Ludwig AI indicates that it is not considered standard English. For clarity and correctness, substituting it with alternatives like "increase by" or "increase in" is advisable. Despite its common appearance, especially in scientific literature, opting for more conventional phrasing enhances the precision and acceptance of your writing. Therefore, while not strictly wrong, using alternatives ensures better grammatical standing and clearer communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increase by

Uses the preposition 'by' to indicate the amount of increase, offering a more standard grammatical construction.

increase in

Employs the preposition 'in' to specify the area or aspect that experiences growth, providing a clearer and more common alternative.

rise above

Suggests surpassing a specific level or benchmark, implying an increase in a metaphorical or literal sense.

grow beyond

Implies exceeding a limit or expectation, similar to increasing past a certain point.

improve over

Focuses on betterment or enhancement compared to a previous state, indicating a positive increase in quality or performance.

build on

Suggests adding to an existing foundation, gradually increasing the overall structure or progress.

expand from

Implies growth or development starting from a particular point, increasing in scope or size.

advance beyond

Indicates progression past a certain stage, implying an increase in knowledge, skill, or capability.

climb over

Conveys overcoming a barrier or obstacle, metaphorically increasing success or achievement.

gain after

Highlights a positive result obtained following a particular event, implying an increase in benefits or advantages.

FAQs

Is "increase upon" grammatically correct?

While "increase upon" is used, particularly in scientific contexts, it is often considered grammatically incorrect. More standard alternatives include "increase by" or "increase in".

What are some alternatives to "increase upon"?

Depending on the context, you can replace "increase upon" with phrases like "increase by", "increase in", "rise above", or "grow beyond".

How do I use "increase by" correctly?

"Increase by" is used to specify the amount of increase. For example, "The temperature will increase by 5 degrees." This construction is clearer and more widely accepted than "increase upon".

What is the difference between "increase in" and "increase upon"?

"Increase in" is used to refer to the area that is subject to augment. Instead, the phrasal verb "increase upon" should be avoided in favor of more standard constructions such as "increase by".