How to Say “Building On”

When it comes to expressing the concept of “building on” in both formal and informal contexts, there are several ways to convey this idea effectively. Whether you’re engaging in a professional conversation or having a casual discussion with friends, it’s important to know the appropriate phrases and variations to use. In this guide, we’ll explore different ways to express “building on” and provide you with useful tips and examples.

Formal Expressions

In formal settings, such as business or academic conversations, it’s crucial to use appropriate language to convey your ideas professionally. Here are some formal expressions that effectively convey the meaning of “building on”:

1. Expanding upon: This phrase emphasizes the idea of building on existing knowledge or adding to a previous point. For example, “I would like to expand upon the ideas mentioned in the previous presentation.”
2. Elaborating on: This expression suggests providing more details or further explanation on a particular topic. It indicates a deeper exploration of a concept or idea. For instance, “Could you please elaborate on the steps involved in building on this strategy?”
3. Adding to: This phrase is commonly used to indicate contributing or supplementing additional information to an existing topic or discussion. For instance, “I would like to add to what my colleague mentioned earlier about building on our current market research.”
4. Continuing from: This expression implies the idea of carrying forward or progressing from a previous point. For example, “Let’s continue from where we left off in our last meeting and discuss the strategies for building on our current success.”
5. Building upon: This phrase emphasizes the process of developing or expanding upon a specific idea or concept. For instance, “We should consider building upon the framework that was proposed in our initial discussion.”

Informal Expressions

In more casual or informal conversations, you have a bit more flexibility to use colloquial phrases and expressions to convey the idea of “building on”. Here are some examples of informal expressions:

1. Going off what X said: This phrase is commonly used in informal conversations to indicate that you’re building upon someone else’s statement or idea. For example, “Going off what Sarah said earlier, I think we should consider a different approach to building on our current customer base.”
2. Picking up where we left off: This expression suggests the idea of continuing a conversation or discussion from a previous point or moment. For instance, “Let’s pick up where we left off and talk about building on our project plans for next quarter.”
3. Adding on: This phrase is used to indicate the act of contributing or adding additional information to an existing topic. For example, “I just wanted to add on to what John mentioned earlier about our plans for building on our social media presence.”
4. Bouncing off: This expression implies the idea of using someone else’s statement as a starting point to further develop or explore a concept. For instance, “I’d like to bounce off Jennifer’s idea and suggest a different approach to building on our current sales strategy.”
5. Picking up the thread: This phrase conveys the idea of resuming a conversation or idea that was previously discussed. For example, “Let’s pick up the thread from yesterday’s meeting and discuss the next steps for building on our client relationships.”

Tip: In both formal and informal contexts, it’s important to actively listen and engage with the conversation to smoothly build on the ideas presented.

Remember, the expressions mentioned above can vary in usage depending on the region or cultural context. While it’s important to be aware of these variations, it’s generally sufficient to focus on using the appropriate formal or informal expressions based on the setting rather than regional variations.

In conclusion, expressing the concept of “building on” requires the usage of appropriate phrases and expressions based on the formality of the conversation. By employing these formal and informal expressions, you can effectively convey your ideas and actively contribute to any discussion. Remember to adapt your language based on the context and always be respectful and attentive to others’ contributions.