Draw On or Draw From – Which Is Correct? (Helpful Examples)

Two expressions that get a lot of use in apparently similar contexts are “draw on” and “draw form”. They’re obviously similar, but are they synonyms? Or does each one mean something distinct? Could they be used interchangeably? This article will answer all these questions.

Draw On or Draw From – Which Is Correct?

Both “draw on” and “draw from” are completely grammatically correct and accurate expressions, but they’re each used for different situations. “Draw on” is used for taking advice or knowledge from someone who has it, while “draw from” means to take something from either a person, or a thing.

Draw On or Draw From

The difference between the two can be a little difficult to understand, so here’s a summary: “Draw on” is mostly about taking from personal experiences, while “draw from” is about taking something more generally.

Their meanings are similar enough that they could be used interchangeably, but they usually aren’t. Particularly, you could use “draw from” to mean “draw on”, but doing the opposite might be tougher.

Draw On

“Draw on” is a phrase used when you take inspiration from personal experience and knowledge, either yours or someone else’s. When you “draw on” information, you’re using that information to your own advantage, reinterpreting it and giving it your own flair.

You can use “draw on” in a variety of situations in which you’d want to use your own knowledge or someone else’s knowledge to your advantage, usually culminating in employing this knowledge for an objective.

The way that you gain this information from someone else might be through their ideas or through information that they possess and are able to provide you with.

Here are a few examples that will show you how to use “draw on” in a sentence:

  1. I think I will draw on my knowledge of the 2008 economic recession for this upcoming presentation.
  2. You should draw on your knowledge of the climate crisis as it pertains to migrants for now.
  3. She’s got to draw on her knowledge of the European political panorama for this important project.
  4. I will draw on your knowledge of the way that the United Nations works with third world countries.
  5. I want to draw on your knowledge of the different directors of the American new wave in the 1970s.
  6. We should draw on his knowledge of antiquated machinery for this art project we have to do.
  7. It’s important to draw on her knowledge of the fashion world for this upcoming article.

Draw From

“Draw from” is a phrase that is generally just used to refer to taking something, usually information and/or knowledge from something or someone. The usage of “from” highlights the fact that you’re taking information.

When you “draw from” something, you’re fundamentally taking inspiration in some way. You can take inspiration from someone, their experiences, or from an object, a piece of art, or whatever it is that inspires you.

While “draw from” is a type of “taking”, it’s worth remarking upon that it’s a benevolent type of “taking”, and should not be equated with, for example, stealing, which is another type of “taking”.

Here are some example sentences that will teach you how to use “draw from” in a sentence:

  1. For this art project I will draw from the art deco aesthetic of the middle of the 20th century.
  2. You should draw from your own personal experiences to make great, meaningful art.
  3. It’s clear that in his latest movie he draws from the greatest blockbusters of decades earlier.
  4. In that specific book I believe he draws from a couple of real crimes to write this mystery.
  5. I think I am going to draw from the renaissance artists for this upcoming essay I am writing.
  6. She wanted to draw from my experiences as an immigrant in foreign countries for this movie.
  7. It’s good to draw from the art that inspires you to make art, because it helps give your art heart.

Draw Upon

“Draw upon” is a phrase that functions as a synonym for “draw on”, meaning that you can use it when taking inspiration or content from lived experience or knowledge, either yours or someone else’s. “Drawing upon” is a very common phrase and people will understand what you mean by it.

You can use “draw upon” as a slightly more elaborate way of specifying that you’re taking inspiration from an experience. The specific experience can be your own, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be.

Here are a few examples that will teach your how to use “draw upon” in a sentence:

  1. I think for this new paper you should draw upon your own experiences in niche fields like this one.
  2. His latest art exhibition is great because it draws upon his time and struggles working in the Navy.
  3. She doesn’t like that your new book draws upon her knowledge of that time period at all.
  4. Ultimately, his new movie ended up drawing upon his father’s experiences as a journalist.
  5. You have to learn when you should draw upon your own experiences and when you should not.
  6. For my new book I am drawing upon my time as a freelance programmer in online spaces.
  7. She should draw upon his experiences as a movie theater usher for her art project.

Which Phrase Is Used The Most?

According to information provided by the Google Ngram Viewer, “draw on” is by far the most popular of the three expressions, with a vast gap between “draw from”, “draw upon” and itself.

Draw On or Draw From or Draw Upon english usage

The data sourced by the chart is extremely interesting to browse, as it reveals several facts. First of all, “draw on” wasn’t always the most popular expression of the three.

From the year 1800 to 1940, more than a hundred years, “draw from” was the most popular of all three expressions. This changed, and after 1940 “draw on” gained a lead it has not lost.

Until the year 1940, “draw on” and “draw upon” were constantly overtaking each other, with no definitive winner in popularity between the two. Evidently this changed as “draw on” became popular.

“Draw upon” has comparatively stayed relatively consistent in its placement over the years, as “draw on” grew in popularity and “draw from decreased” in it.

Final Thoughts

“Draw on” and “draw from” are both grammatically correct expressions. Not only that, they have very similar meanings. “Draw on” means taking from personal experiences, “draw from” means to take from things in general. Both of them are perfectly fine to use, and might be interchangeable, depending on the situation.