stacking up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stacking up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where things are accumulating or increasing in number or intensity. Example: "The tasks on my to-do list are stacking up, and I need to prioritize them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Just stacking up information.

The Guardian - Film

"The innings kept stacking up".

The New York Times

Is your personal branding stacking up right?

The Guardian

They enjoy stacking up units haphazardly, like pick-up sticks.

The Guardian - Arts

Coutts is also stacking up his frequent-flyer miles.

The New York Times - Sports

One by one, circumstances were stacking up against the Dodgers.

The New York Times - Sports

But proponents of the separate species hypothesis say that evidence is stacking up in their favour.

The Guardian

Here's how I think the major categories are stacking up ahead of Sunday's ceremony.

The Guardian - Film

Now she will concentrate on what is stacking up as a Summer Games farewell.

The New York Times - Sports

The issues are stacking up for him after four days of cricket.

The Guardian - Sport

Caleb was already laying out the game board, counting money, and stacking up the Chance cards.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stacking up" to convey a sense of gradual accumulation or increase, often implying a growing challenge or opportunity. For instance, "The evidence is stacking up in favor of this theory" suggests increasing support for a particular viewpoint.

Common error

Avoid using "stacking up" when you simply mean "arranging neatly". This phrase often implies an increasing burden or significant result from the accumulation.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "stacking up" functions primarily as an intransitive verb, describing a process of accumulation or increase. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase suggests a situation where things are accumulating or increasing in number or intensity. Many examples illustrate this, referring to things like "evidence stacking up" or "problems stacking up".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrasal verb "stacking up" is a versatile and common expression used to describe the process of accumulation or increase. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media, Science and Wiki sources, "stacking up" effectively communicates the sense of something growing over time, often implying significance. While alternatives like "piling up" and "accumulating" exist, "stacking up" often carries a nuance of order or consequence. Use it to convey the increasing importance or burden of accumulating items or situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accumulating

Focuses on a gradual increase in quantity or number over time.

piling up

Suggests a disorganized and often overwhelming accumulation.

building up

Implies a gradual increase in intensity or pressure.

mounting

Highlights a growing quantity that may present a challenge.

increasing

A general term for growing in number, size, or degree.

growing

Similar to increasing, but often used for more organic development.

amassing

Suggests gathering something, often of value or importance.

collecting

Focuses on bringing items together, often in a deliberate way.

multiplying

Highlights a rapid or exponential increase.

accumulating rapidly

Emphasizes the fast pace of growth or increase.

FAQs

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

You can use "stacking up" to describe things that are accumulating. For instance, "The bills are "stacking up"," or "The evidence is "stacking up" against him".

What can I say instead of "stacking up"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "piling up", "accumulating", or "building up".

Is it correct to say "stacked up" instead of "stacking up"?

While "stacked up" can describe things arranged in a pile, ""stacking up"" typically refers to the process of accumulation or increase over time. They have distinct meanings and aren't always interchangeable.

What's the difference between "stacking up" and "piling up"?

Both phrases describe accumulation, but ""stacking up"" often implies a more orderly or consequential accumulation, while "piling up" suggests a more disorganized or overwhelming accumulation.