shore up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shore up" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to mean to "strengthen or support something," or to "give something a boost." For example, "The company decided to shore up their profits by offering new discounts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Assess and shore up structures.

The New York Times

Shore Up, Then Solidify Besides seeking resonance, campaigns spend a lot of time trying to "solidify" and "shore up" support.

The New York Times

How much will this shore up confidence?

BBC

But McCain needs shore up his own political levees.

Huffington Post

That may shore up her political base.

The Economist

To shore up our egos.

The New Yorker

Clegg wasn't trying to shore up votes.

The Guardian - Opinion

The goal should be to shore up processes.

Yale University

Europe takes new steps to shore up its economy.

The New York Times

He could try to shore up the old system.

The Economist

But they mostly go to shore up state finances.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shore up" when you want to convey the idea of reinforcing something that is at risk of failing or weakening. It's suitable for both physical structures and abstract concepts like confidence or support.

Common error

Avoid using "shore up" when referring to the initial construction of something. The phrase implies reinforcing something already in place that is becoming weak, not building something new from scratch.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "shore up" primarily functions as a dynamic verb, indicating an action performed on a direct object. It signifies reinforcement or strengthening, often suggesting a proactive measure to prevent failure or decline, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Science

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shore up" is a phrasal verb used to describe the act of strengthening or reinforcing something that is at risk of failing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's considered grammatically correct and is frequently used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While it's appropriate for both formal and informal writing, it's important to use it when referring to reinforcing something already in place, rather than building something new. Alternatives like "bolster", "reinforce", and "strengthen" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. This makes "shore up" a versatile and valuable phrase for expressing proactive efforts to maintain stability and prevent decline.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shore

As a verb, maintains the core meaning but loses the phrasal verb construction.

bolster

A single word that similarly means to strengthen or support. It's often used when referring to confidence or morale.

reinforce

Emphasizes making something stronger, often used in the context of structures or ideas.

strengthen

A direct synonym indicating an increase in power, force, or effectiveness.

support

Provides aid or assistance, implying a more general form of help than direct strengthening.

prop up

Similar to "shore up", but suggests that the thing being supported is in danger of collapsing.

fortify

Suggests adding defensive measures to protect against attack or weakening.

buttress

Similar to "shore up" but often used metaphorically to mean support or strengthen.

underpin

Implies providing a solid foundation or basis for something.

brace

Suggests preparing something to withstand pressure or impact.

FAQs

How can I use "shore up" in a sentence?

You can use "shore up" to mean reinforcing or strengthening something that's at risk of failing. For example, "The government is taking measures to shore up the economy."

What's a good alternative to "shore up"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "shore up" include "bolster", "reinforce", or "strengthen".

Is it appropriate to use "shore up" in formal writing?

Yes, "shore up" is appropriate in formal writing. Ludwig AI examples confirm its usage in news articles and academic papers.

Can "shore up" be used for both physical and abstract things?

Yes, "shore up" can be used for both physical things, like structures, and abstract things, like confidence or support. For example, "They needed to shore up the foundation" or "He needed to shore up his reputation".