reaching up to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reaching up to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the action of extending one's hand or arm upward, or metaphorically to indicate striving for a goal or aspiration. Example: "The child was reaching up to grab the cookie jar from the top shelf."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Hey," Mitz says, reaching up to grasp her, her voice jumping an octave.

The New Yorker

She did the thing with the tip of her tongue reaching up to the mole.

The New Yorker

The combination of Presepsin and PCT improved specificity, NPV and PPV reaching up to 97%%.

Annals of Intensive Care

These materials reaching up to 10 μm are sometimes connected (Fig. 6b).

Earth, Planets and Space

First, our tariff data are more detailed, reaching up to 6 to 8 digits of disaggregation.

Latin American Economic Review

There, the situation is quite different, with values reaching up to 15% with almost no vertical wind.

Earth, Planets and Space

Typically, polythiophenes exhibit absorption maximum around 500 nm with an extended absorption tail reaching up to 650 nm [16].

Nanoscale Research Letters

They are Lyctos Facula and Ida Facula, with width reaching up to 25 km.

Wikipedia

The vaulting is of exceptional height, reaching up to 4 m.

Wikipedia

A number of IBV strains cause severe nephritis, with mortality reaching up to 30% [20].

Plosone

These retrotransposons vary in size, reaching up to 25 kb.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing numerical limits or ranges, use "reaching up to" to indicate the maximum value attainable. For example, "The prices are reaching up to $500".

Common error

Avoid using "reaching up to" when describing actions that simply involve reaching; use it to specify limits or maximums. For example, instead of "He was reaching up to the shelf", consider "He was reaching for the shelf" if you are not indicating the maximum height.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reaching up to" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb, often indicating direction, extent, or limit. It specifies the upper boundary or maximum value that something can attain, similar to examples Ludwig provides where prices are "reaching up to" a certain amount or a tower is "reaching up to" a certain height.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reaching up to" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to specify the upper limit or extent of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used in diverse contexts. Appearing frequently in scientific, news, and general content, "reaching up to" effectively conveys a maximum value or degree. While applicable across registers, it's crucial to use it appropriately in numerical or spatial contexts to avoid misapplication. Remember to consider alternatives like "extending towards" or "going as high as" for nuanced expression. This analysis offers practical insights for precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extending towards

Focuses on the action of stretching in a specific direction, emphasizing physical extension.

going as high as

Emphasizes the maximum extent or limit that something attains.

rising until

Highlights the continuous upward movement to a certain point.

ascending as far as

Focuses on the act of climbing or moving upwards to a specified level.

stretching until

Emphasizes the act of lengthening or extending something to a certain limit.

increasing to

Highlights a gradual increase to a specific quantity or level.

climbing toward

Focuses on the effort and progress of moving upward to a specific target.

amounting to

Focuses on total when something has been summed to reach a value, a total, a degree.

approaching the level of

Indicates nearing a specific level or standard, often used in comparative contexts.

aspiring to

Emphasizes the desire or ambition to attain a higher goal or standard.

FAQs

How can I use "reaching up to" in a sentence?

Use "reaching up to" to express an upper limit or the extent to which something can go. For instance, "The costs are "reaching up to" $1000" indicates the highest possible price.

What alternatives are there for "reaching up to"?

Alternatives include phrases like "going as high as", "extending to", or "rising until", depending on the specific context. For example, instead of "reaching up to", you might say "The tower is "rising until" 100 feet".

Is it correct to say "reach up to" instead of "reaching up to"?

Both forms can be grammatically correct, but "reaching up to" typically describes a continuous or potential action. "Reach up to" may imply a single instance of extending upwards. The best choice depends on the intended meaning.

How does "reaching up to" differ from "reaching"?

"Reaching" simply means to extend one's arm or effort. "Reaching up to" implies extending upwards to a specific limit or value. The addition of "up to" adds a quantitative or spatial boundary.