touch upon

Meaning

To 'touch upon' (or 'touch on') a topic means to mention or discuss it briefly without going into great detail. It is commonly used in academic lectures, research papers, and presentations when introducing secondary points. This phrasal verb helps manage the scope of a discussion.

Examples

• The professor touched upon the history of the region before starting the main lecture.

  The professor touched upon the history of the region before starting the main lecture.

• Our paper will touch upon several theories, but we will focus primarily on one.

  Our paper will touch upon several theories, but we will focus primarily on one.

• While the chapter touches upon economic factors, it mainly focuses on social changes.

  While the chapter touches upon economic factors, it mainly focuses on social changes.

• I would like to touch upon the limitations of our research in this final slide.

  I would like to touch upon the limitations of our research in this final slide.

• Although she touched upon the issue during the meeting, she didn't explain it fully.

  Although she touched upon the issue during the meeting, she didn't explain it fully.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The article touched about the political crisis.

  ✓ The article touched upon the political crisis.

  The preposition must be 'upon' or 'on', never 'about' or 'at'.

• ✗ We need to touch up the main arguments in our introduction.

  ✓ We need to touch upon the main arguments in our introduction.

  'Touch up' means to improve or repair the surface of something (like paint or photos), whereas 'touch upon' means to mention briefly.

Related Expressions

Practice

• In my presentation, I will briefly ___ the ethical issues of AI.

  💡 mention briefly, formal phrasal verb

  Show answer

  touch upon

• The lecturer ___ the historical background but didn't elaborate.

  💡 past tense

  Show answer

  touched upon