How can you use the word up in a sentence?

Answer 1

The word "up" is a directional word, and is the opposite of the word "down". Both are action words. Writers should avoid phrases like "up on the top of the (noun)" (specifically avoid "of the top of") if the sentence can be written a different way. However, it sometimes becomes difficult to use the word "up" without saying what the object is "up" on. (examples to avoid: "on top of"... : up on the shelf of the cabinet; up on top of the dresser; up on the highest shelf of the...)

Good example sentences include these:

1. "Turn the television volume up; I can't hear the show!"
2. The woman turned up the radio when she heard her favorite song.
3. The man climbed up the stairs, walked across the outdoor patio as he peeked in the house windows, then went down the stairs on the opposite side.
4. Using a person as an example, a person's head is "up" and his feet are "down". However, if a person was standing on his head, upside-down, his head would be down and his feet would be up.
5. John came home from work and propped his feet up on a foot stool.
6. The executive put his feet up on his desk, leaned back in his chair, and fell asleep.
7. Sally had to hike up her half-slip several times because it hung lower than her skirt.
8. The grocery clerk made the mistake of putting heavy products up on the top shelf; later, the display fell down onto a customer's head.
9. The baker filled a measuring pitcher up to the 2-cup line.
10. "Fill 'er up?" the gas station attendant asked the driver.
11. "Yes, fill the tank up and top it off," the customer directed.
12. The phrase "having his head up in the clouds" means the person is not being very practical or logical, or a condition of being mentally or emotionally swept away into fanciful thinking.
13. Joan had her head in the clouds if she thought Tom would ever leave his wife and marry Joan.
14. Beautiful music is said to "lift someone up" because the person feels better, more alive, or more connected to life through certain types of music.
15. "You Raise Me Up" is the title of a song performed by singer, Josh Groban.