racking up experience

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "racking up experience" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the process of gaining or accumulating experience over time, often in a professional or personal context. Example: "During my internship, I was racking up experience in various aspects of marketing, which helped me land a full-time job."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Reference

Social Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Many social theorists and marketing consultants, including pollster John Zogby and entrepreneur Graham Hill (founder of two lifestyle-simplification websites), said these millennials often get more excited about racking up experiences than accumulating possessions.

Los Angeles Times

In common with most online fantasy games, their heroic journey requires repeating mindless tasks to rack up experience points in the pursuit of some distant endgame.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Visviki, meanwhile, has racked up experience in the advertising and non-profit sectors.

TechCrunch

That's what life's about, racking up cool experiences and cool memories.

Huffington Post

US athletics are racking up the medals.

Yale University

Why is Chicago still racking up homicides?

The Washington Post

But that charm relied on the fact these were children, simply racking up valuable life experience.

The Guardian - Film

Ken Ilgunas spent most of two years living in a van when he was a graduate student at Duke University in order to avoid racking up debt, an experience he chronicled in a book called "Walden on Wheels," published in 2013.

The New Yorker

He has already racked up eight years of experience working for Mrs. Clinton; he has been a devoted supporter since the age of 13.

The New York Times

If you take on too much work and your health drops to zero before you've racked up thirty experience points, you lose your job.

The New Yorker

Rather, it is avoiding the impending financial collapse by cutting government spending on everything by 43 percent Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and defense a plan bolder than any that either party has proffered.Moreover, unlike Mr Paul, Mr Johnson has racked up executive experience and a sterling record as governor of the Land of Enchantment.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "racking up experience" when you want to convey the idea of actively accumulating or gaining a significant amount of experience, often through diverse activities or challenges.

Common error

While "racking up experience" is widely understood, it can sound slightly informal. In highly formal writing, consider more neutral alternatives like "gaining experience" or "accumulating expertise".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "racking up experience" is that of a verb phrase. It describes an action of accumulating or gaining experience over time. It is often used with a subject to indicate who is performing the action of accumulating experience, as stated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Science

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "racking up experience" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression that signifies the accumulation of knowledge, skills, or expertise through active participation. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase enjoys broad applicability across diverse contexts, though its slightly informal tone might warrant the consideration of alternatives like "gaining experience" or "accumulating expertise" in more formal settings. It is important to consider the specific context when using this phrase to ensure it aligns with the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Gaining experience

Focuses on the act of obtaining experience, a more general term.

Accumulating expertise

Emphasizes the build-up of expert knowledge or skill.

Acquiring proficiency

Highlights the development of competence in a particular area.

Building a skill set

Focuses on the development of a collection of skills.

Developing expertise

Highlights the process of growing expertise over time.

Gathering knowledge

Emphasizes the acquisition of information and understanding.

Amassing know-how

Focuses on the accumulation of practical knowledge and skills.

Honing skills

Implies refining existing skills to a higher level.

Expanding one's capabilities

Highlights the broadening of abilities and potential.

Cultivating expertise

Suggests nurturing and developing expertise over a longer period.

FAQs

What does "racking up experience" mean?

It means to accumulate or gain a lot of experience, often through active participation in various activities or over a period of time.

What can I say instead of "racking up experience"?

You can use alternatives like "gaining experience", "accumulating expertise", or "acquiring proficiency" depending on the specific context.

Is "racking up experience" formal or informal?

It is generally considered somewhat informal but widely acceptable in many contexts. For highly formal situations, consider using "gaining experience" or "accumulating expertise".

How to use "racking up experience" in a sentence?

Example: "She spent the summer interning at various companies, "racking up experience" in marketing and sales."