English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
Are you ADDING ON or ADDING UP?
It will be good to ~add up~ few more rooms to the structure (nonstandard).
It will be good to *add on* few more rooms to the structure (standard).
If one thing is added on to another, it is attached to the other thing, or is made a part of it.
Even small savings can ~add on~ (nonstandard).
Even small savings can *add up* (standard).
If small amounts of something add up, they gradually increase.
It becomes a trouble when the minor problems *add up*. ✔️
It becomes a trouble when the minor problems ~add on~. ❌
You couldn’t have been in Lagos and got arrested in Owerri; that doesn’t ~add on~ (nonstandard).
You couldn’t have been in Lagos and got arrested in Owerri; that doesn’t *add up* (standard).
If facts or events do not add up, they make you confused about a situation because they do not seem to be consistent. If something that someone has said or done adds up, it is reasonable and sensible.
GAB
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