to extend upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to extend upon" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is "to expand upon," which is used when elaborating or providing more detail on a topic. Example: "In my presentation, I would like to expand upon the key findings of our research."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

>> point here within functor to extend upon in this direction.

Harvard University

Before the project began, my initial goal was to implement the Donner and Jensen paper, since they provided some very good looking leaves in the paper, and then to extend upon these.

Stanford University

We suggest that our study design emphasizing response speed coupled with well-defined early probes allowed us to extend upon similar past investigations into the timing of response inhibition.

Neuroscience Research

Android may be able to extend upon these new location ideas, but it will be the iPhone that puts them in the mind of most consumers.

TechCrunch

To extend upon the phylogenetic results, we applied a molecular clock approach to estimate the number of nematode generations that separate PS1579 and P. davidi CB1.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

To extend upon these studies, we asked whether PyMT oncogenesis within specific luminal, basal, and stem cell populations would affect tumor latency, pathology, metastasis, and molecular subgroup.

Breast Cancer Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

He said the Fed planned to extend and expand upon the financial faucets it put into place since the summer's mortgage meltdown, to provide banks with a wide range of sources of liquidity.

The New York Times

The level of control vary from region to region and depends to a large extend upon religious and socio-economical considerations, inclusive the organisational infrastructure of the society.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

The award gives students the opportunity to extend and reflect upon their undergraduate work at Berkeley by undertaking a social engagement project in the year following graduation.

University of California, Berkeley

The award gives engaged students the opportunity to extend and reflect upon their undergraduate work at Berkeley by undertaking a socially engaged project after their graduation.

University of California, Berkeley

He doesn't talk about next year, and neither do the Yankees, but it is out there, the belief that George Steinbrenner made an agreement with Clemens's agents, Randy and Alan Hendricks, to extend his contract upon acquiring him last spring.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to convey the idea of furthering a point or concept, replace "to extend upon" with more grammatically sound alternatives such as "to expand on" or "to build upon" to enhance clarity and credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "to extend upon" too frequently, as it can come across as awkward or grammatically questionable. Diversify your writing by incorporating a variety of synonyms like "to elaborate on" or "to develop further" to make your text more engaging and polished.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to extend upon" functions as a verb phrase intended to mean elaborating or adding to something that already exists. Although Ludwig AI flags it as potentially incorrect, it appears in a variety of sources, suggesting a degree of acceptance, though careful consideration of alternatives is recommended.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "to extend upon" is used across various domains including science, news, and academia, Ludwig AI suggests it is not entirely correct in standard English. Its intended meaning revolves around elaborating or building upon an existing idea. Given the availability of more grammatically sound alternatives like "to expand on" or "to build upon", it's advisable to opt for these in formal contexts to ensure clarity and credibility. While its frequency is uncommon, understanding its function and purpose can aid in making informed writing choices.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to build upon

Implies using existing information as a foundation for further development.

to expand on

Suggests a more comprehensive development of an idea or concept.

to elaborate on

Focuses on providing more details and clarification about a specific point.

to expound on

Emphasizes a detailed and thorough explanation of a subject.

to amplify on

Highlights the act of increasing the significance or impact of something.

to develop further

Indicates a continued and progressive advancement of an idea.

to add to

Suggests simply increasing the amount of information or detail.

to enhance

Focuses on improving the quality or value of something already in place.

to augment

Implies adding something to improve or complete something else.

to embellish

Suggests adding decorative details to enhance appeal.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to the phrase "to extend upon"?

Instead of "to extend upon", you can use phrases like "to expand on", "to elaborate on", "to build upon", or "to develop further" depending on the specific context.

Is "to extend upon" grammatically correct?

While you might encounter the phrase "to extend upon", it's generally considered less correct than alternatives like "to expand on" or "to build upon". Using these alternatives will ensure clearer and more grammatically sound writing.

How can I use "to build upon" in a sentence?

You can use "to build upon" to suggest adding to an existing foundation, for example: "This research aims to build upon previous findings in the field".

What is the difference between "to extend upon" and "to expand on"?

While both phrases suggest adding more information, "to expand on" is generally considered the more grammatically sound choice. "To extend upon" is less common and can sound awkward in formal writing.