touch upon

USAGE SUMMARY

'touch upon' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to say that a conversation or discussion has mentioned a subject briefly or in passing. For example, "We touched upon the issue of diversity during the meeting, but we'll address it more in-depth at the next one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"We tried to touch upon things that were important to the novel," said Mr. Arteta.

The New York Times - Books

We'll just touch upon the top two, then quickly jump to a local solution.

The New York Times

There is another aspect of her work that is difficult to touch upon.

The Guardian - Opinion

Ms. Lee's comments touch upon a major fault line in opinion between Washington and Seoul.

The New York Times

You touch upon something and leave it, or you must make circumlocutions".

The New York Times

The hypothetical situations at the regional contest were devised to touch upon various industries and issues.

The New York Times

However, there's one area of very thin ice that you touch upon.

The New York Times

Some affect consumers' health, some touch upon ethics and some are meaningless.

The New York Times - Food

"These things touch upon the soul of the people," he said.

The New York Times

Jamie: At the same time, we've touched upon things you're not 'supposed' to touch upon.

The Guardian - Music

"That is something we wanted to touch upon in the square, where it's all about power.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "touch upon" when you want to indicate that you are briefly mentioning a topic without going into extensive detail. This is useful in situations where time is limited or the topic is not the primary focus.

Common error

Avoid using "touch upon" repeatedly in a single piece of writing. Overuse can make your writing seem repetitive and lacking in depth. Vary your language by using synonyms like "mention briefly" or "allude to".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "touch upon" is that of a phrasal verb. It functions to indicate that a topic is being mentioned or discussed briefly, without extensive detail. Ludwig shows that this phrase is commonly used to introduce a subject without delving deeply into it.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

42%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "touch upon" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate that a topic is being mentioned briefly. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is suitable for various contexts, primarily in news and media, and scientific writing. When using "touch upon", it's important to be mindful of overuse and consider synonyms to maintain variety in your writing. While "touch upon" is generally acceptable, be aware that it can sometimes be replaced by the shorter and equally valid "touch on". Overall, "touch upon" is a useful tool for signaling that a topic is being acknowledged without extensive analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mention briefly

This alternative replaces the idiomatic expression with a more direct and concise description of the action.

allude to

This option suggests a more indirect or subtle reference to the topic at hand.

refer to briefly

It indicates a short and non-extensive reference to a specific subject.

glance at

This conveys a sense of quickly and superficially addressing a topic.

skim over

This suggests dealing with something quickly and without much attention to detail.

broach the subject

This refers to introducing a topic, often a sensitive or difficult one, for discussion.

cover briefly

This indicates a short discussion or presentation of the topic.

address lightly

It indicates giving a summary account of a matter.

deal with cursorily

This option suggests a superficial and hasty manner of treating a subject.

sketch out

This conveys the idea of providing a basic outline or overview, without detail.

FAQs

How can I use "touch upon" in a sentence?

You can use "touch upon" to indicate that you are briefly mentioning a topic. For example, "The presentation will "touch upon" various marketing strategies."

What can I say instead of "touch upon"?

You can use alternatives like "mention briefly", "allude to", or "refer to briefly" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "touch on" instead of "touch upon"?

Yes, "touch on" is a shorter and equally acceptable alternative to ""touch upon"". Both phrases mean to mention something briefly.

What's the difference between "touch upon" and "elaborate on"?

"Touch upon" means to mention something briefly, while "elaborate on" means to provide more details and expand on a topic. They are essentially opposites.