Other Ways to Say “From Scratch”: Expanding Your English Vocabulary

“From scratch” is a common way to describe starting something without using pre-existing materials or shortcuts—but it can sound too casual or repetitive in formal writing or professional settings. Whether you’re describing a recipe, a business, or a project, you might want more precise or polished alternatives.

Phrases like “from the ground up,” “starting fresh,” “built entirely by hand,” or “developed independently” can add clarity and variety. This guide explores useful alternatives to “from scratch” across different contexts—from cooking and coding to business and creative work.

Table of Contents

1. Definition of “From Scratch”
2. Structural Breakdown
3. Types and Categories of Alternatives
   • Beginning Anew
   • No Prior Work
   • Using Basic Elements
   • Improvisation and Resourcefulness
   • Fundamental Level
4. Examples
   • Beginning Anew Examples
   • No Prior Work Examples
   • Basic Elements Examples
   • Improvisation Examples
   • Fundamental Level Examples
5. Usage Rules
6. Common Mistakes
7. Practice Exercises
   • Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
   • Exercise 2: Sentence Rewriting
   • Exercise 3: Contextual Usage
8. Advanced Topics
9. FAQ
10. Conclusion

Definition of “From Scratch”

The idiom “from scratch” means to start something from the very beginning, often implying that no prior work or materials were used. It suggests a process that begins with the most basic elements or no preparation at all.

The phrase can be used in both literal and figurative contexts.

Classification: Idiom/Adverbial Phrase

Function: To modify a verb, indicating the manner in which an action is performed (i.e., starting from the beginning).

Contexts: Cooking (making a dish from raw ingredients), construction (building something from basic materials), software development (coding a program from the ground up), and project management (starting a project with no existing framework).

Structural Breakdown

The phrase “from scratch” consists of two words: “from” and “scratch.” “From” is a preposition indicating the starting point, and “scratch” refers to the starting line in a race or any initial mark. The combination creates a figurative meaning of beginning at the most basic level.

The phrase typically functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to describe how the action is performed. For example, in the sentence “I built this website from scratch,” the phrase “from scratch” modifies the verb “built,” indicating that the website was created starting with nothing.

Types and Categories of Alternatives

Many phrases and words can replace “from scratch,” each with slightly different nuances. These alternatives can be categorized based on the specific aspect of “from scratch” that they emphasize.

Beginning Anew

These alternatives emphasize the fresh start aspect, often implying a clean slate or a new beginning.

• Anew: Suggests starting something again, often in a different way.
• Afresh: Similar to “anew,” indicating a fresh start with renewed vigor.
• From the ground up: Highlights building something systematically from the foundation.
• From the beginning: A straightforward alternative emphasizing the initial stage.

No Prior Work

These alternatives focus on the absence of previous effort or resources, emphasizing the self-reliance and originality involved.

• Without any help: Emphasizes the lack of assistance in the process.
• Single-handedly: Highlights individual effort and independence.
• On one’s own: Similar to “single-handedly,” focusing on self-reliance.
• From zero: Emphasizes starting with absolutely nothing.

Using Basic Elements

These alternatives highlight the use of raw materials or fundamental components in the creation process.

• From raw materials: Specifically refers to using unprocessed ingredients or materials.
• From basic ingredients: Similar to “from raw materials,” often used in cooking.
• From the bare bones: Emphasizes starting with the most essential elements.
• From component parts: Suggests assembling something from individual pieces.

Improvisation and Resourcefulness

These alternatives emphasize the creative and adaptive nature of starting from scratch, often implying a lack of planning or resources.

• Improvisationally: Highlights the spontaneous and creative approach.
• By the seat of one’s pants: Suggests doing something without much planning or preparation.
• Making do: Emphasizes resourcefulness and using whatever is available.
• Figuring it out as you go: Highlights the adaptive and experimental nature of the process.

Fundamental Level

These alternatives stress the depth and thoroughness of starting from the most basic principles or concepts.

• From first principles: Emphasizes starting with fundamental assumptions and reasoning.
• From the rudiments: Highlights beginning with the basic skills or knowledge.
• From the foundations: Similar to “from the ground up,” emphasizing a solid base.
• At the grassroots level: Suggests starting with the most basic or local elements.

Examples

The following tables provide examples of how to use the various alternatives to “from scratch” in different contexts. Each table focuses on a specific category of alternatives and includes a variety of sentences to illustrate their usage.

Beginning Anew Examples

This table presents examples of phrases that emphasize starting something again or afresh. These phrases often imply a fresh perspective or a clean slate.

Alternative	Example Sentence
Anew	After the fire, the community rebuilt the school anew.
Anew	She decided to approach the problem anew after her initial attempts failed.
Anew	The company restructured its operations anew to improve efficiency.
Afresh	Feeling discouraged, he decided to start the project afresh.
Afresh	The team tackled the challenge afresh with a new strategy.
Afresh	They decided to look at the data afresh to identify new patterns.
From the ground up	The entrepreneur built his business from the ground up.
From the ground up	The software was developed from the ground up to meet specific user needs.
From the ground up	The organization restructured its entire system from the ground up.
From the beginning	The teacher explained the concept from the beginning for the benefit of new students.
From the beginning	We need to analyze the process from the beginning to identify the root cause of the problem.
From the beginning	The book tells the story of her life from the beginning to her present day.
Starting over	After the setback, they were forced to consider starting over.
Starting over	The relationship ended, and she found herself starting over in a new city.
Starting over	The project failed, requiring the team to starting over with a revised plan.
Rebuilding	The city is rebuilding after the devastating hurricane.
Rebuilding	They are rebuilding their lives after the personal tragedy.
Rebuilding	The company is rebuilding its reputation after the scandal.
Revising	The author is revising the novel to improve the plot.
Revising	The team is revising the strategy based on the latest market trends.
Revising	The government is revising the policy to address the concerns raised.

No Prior Work Examples

This table provides examples of phrases that emphasize the absence of prior work or assistance, highlighting self-reliance and originality.

Alternative	Example Sentence
Without any help	He completed the project without any help from his colleagues.
Without any help	She managed to fix the car without any help from a mechanic.
Without any help	The child learned to read without any help from his parents.
Single-handedly	She single-handedly organized the entire event.
Single-handedly	He single-handedly built the house.
Single-handedly	The detective single-handedly solved the complex mystery.
On one’s own	She started the business on one’s own with limited resources.
On one’s own	He learned to play the guitar on one’s own through online tutorials.
On one’s own	The student completed the research project on one’s own.
From zero	The programmer built the application from zero.
From zero	The company started from zero and grew into a multinational corporation.
From zero	He rebuilt his life from zero after losing everything.
Independently	She developed the software independently.
Independently	He researched the topic independently.
Independently	The artist created the sculpture independently.
Autonomously	The robot operates autonomously.
Autonomously	The department functions autonomously.
Autonomously	The system runs autonomously.
Unaided	She completed the task unaided.
Unaided	He navigated the wilderness unaided.
Unaided	The climber reached the summit unaided.

Basic Elements Examples

This table illustrates the use of phrases that emphasize the use of raw materials or fundamental components in the creation process.

Alternative	Example Sentence
From raw materials	The artisan crafted the furniture from raw materials.
From raw materials	The factory produces textiles from raw materials.
From raw materials	The sculptor created the statue from raw materials like clay and stone.
From basic ingredients	She baked the cake from basic ingredients like flour, sugar, and eggs.
From basic ingredients	The chef prepared the sauce from basic ingredients like tomatoes, garlic, and herbs.
From basic ingredients	The bread was made from basic ingredients without any preservatives.
From the bare bones	The developer built the website from the bare bones.
From the bare bones	The architect designed the building from the bare bones of the structure.
From the bare bones	The writer crafted the story from the bare bones of a simple idea.
From component parts	The engineer assembled the machine from component parts.
From component parts	The model airplane was constructed from component parts.
From component parts	The computer was assembled from component parts like the motherboard and CPU.
With the simplest resources	She created art with the simplest resources like paper and pencil.
With the simplest resources	He built a shelter with the simplest resources he could find in the forest.
With the simplest resources	They solved the problem with the simplest resources available to them.
Using fundamental elements	The scientist conducted the experiment using fundamental elements.
Using fundamental elements	The architect designed the building using fundamental elements of design.
Using fundamental elements	The composer created the symphony using fundamental elements of music.
Starting with primitives	The graphics designer created the image starting with primitives.
Starting with primitives	The children built the structure starting with primitives like blocks and sticks.
Starting with primitives	The software was developed starting with primitives of coding.

Improvisation Examples

This table showcases phrases that emphasize the improvisational and resourceful nature of starting from scratch, often implying a lack of planning or resources.

Alternative	Example Sentence
Improvisationally	The jazz musician played improvisationally during the concert.
Improvisationally	The chef cooked improvisationally using whatever ingredients were available.
Improvisationally	The actors performed improvisationally based on audience suggestions.
By the seat of one’s pants	He managed the project by the seat of one’s pants due to lack of planning.
By the seat of one’s pants	The pilot flew the plane by the seat of one’s pants during the storm.
By the seat of one’s pants	She navigated the unfamiliar city by the seat of one’s pants.
Making do	They survived in the wilderness by making do with what they could find.
Making do	She decorated the apartment by making do with inexpensive materials.
Making do	The team completed the project by making do with limited resources.
Figuring it out as you go	He built the furniture by figuring it out as you go.
Figuring it out as you go	She learned the new software by figuring it out as you go.
Figuring it out as you go	The entrepreneur launched the startup by figuring it out as you go.
Ad-libbing	The comedian was ad-libbing his entire set.
Ad-libbing	The speaker was ad-libbing due to the missing presentation.
Ad-libbing	The actors were ad-libbing their lines during the rehearsal.
Extemporaneously	He spoke extemporaneously on the topic.
Extemporaneously	She presented the findings extemporaneously.
Extemporaneously	The musician performed extemporaneously.
Off the cuff	He gave a speech off the cuff.
Off the cuff	She answered the question off the cuff.
Off the cuff	The band played a song off the cuff.

Fundamental Level Examples

This table illustrates phrases that emphasize the depth and thoroughness of starting from the most basic principles or concepts.

Alternative	Example Sentence
From first principles	The engineer designed the bridge from first principles of physics.
From first principles	The philosopher approached the problem from first principles of logic.
From first principles	The scientist investigated the phenomenon from first principles.
From the rudiments	The music teacher taught the students from the rudiments of music theory.
From the rudiments	The language course starts from the rudiments of grammar and vocabulary.
From the rudiments	The training program covers the topic from the rudiments for beginners.
From the foundations	The architect built the skyscraper from the foundations.
From the foundations	The researcher developed the theory from the foundations of existing knowledge.
From the foundations	The community rebuilt the city from the foundations after the earthquake.
At the grassroots level	The political movement started at the grassroots level with local activists.
At the grassroots level	The environmental initiative began at the grassroots level with community cleanups.
At the grassroots level	The healthcare program was implemented at the grassroots level with local clinics.
Starting with the basics	The course starts starting with the basics of computer science.
Starting with the basics	The training program begins starting with the basics of customer service.
Starting with the basics	The tutorial teaches you starting with the basics of photography.
From scratch conceptually	He designed the product from scratch conceptually.
From scratch conceptually	She developed the plan from scratch conceptually.
From scratch conceptually	The team approached the project from scratch conceptually.
From the bottom up	The company was built from the bottom up.
From the bottom up	The system was redesigned from the bottom up.
From the bottom up	The community was revitalized from the bottom up.

Usage Rules

While the alternatives to “from scratch” are generally interchangeable, some nuances determine their appropriateness in different contexts. Consider the following rules:

• Formality: Phrases like “from first principles” and “from the rudiments” are more formal and suitable for academic or professional settings.
• Specificity: “From raw materials” and “from basic ingredients” are specific to manufacturing and cooking contexts, respectively.
• Emphasis: “Single-handedly” and “on one’s own” emphasize individual effort, while “improvisationally” and “by the seat of one’s pants” highlight a lack of planning.
• Clarity: “From the beginning” is a straightforward and universally understood alternative, suitable for general use.

Common Mistakes

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using alternatives to “from scratch”:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
She made the cake from the zero.	She made the cake from scratch. / She started from zero.	“From the zero” is not a correct idiom.
He built the house single.	He built the house single-handedly.	“Single” is not the correct form; use “single-handedly.”
They started anewly.	They started anew.	“Anewly” is not a correct word; use “anew.”
She cooked it by the pants of her seat.	She cooked it by the seat of her pants.	The idiom is “by the seat of one’s pants,” not “by the pants of her seat.”
Building from the ground.	Building from the ground up.	The complete idiom is “from the ground up.”
He learned on his ownself.	He learned on his own.	“Ownself” is not a standard English word.
She made it from the raw.	She made it from raw materials.	“From the raw” is not grammatically correct in this context.
They improvisedly.	They improvised. / They did it improvisationally.	“Improvisedly” is not a standard English word.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of the alternatives to “from scratch” with the following exercises.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate alternative to “from scratch” from the list provided:

(anew, from the ground up, without any help, from raw materials, by the seat of one’s pants)

Question	Answer
1. After the storm, the villagers had to rebuild their homes __________.	anew
2. The entrepreneur built his company __________ with no external investment.	from the ground up
3. She completed the challenging project __________ from her team.	without any help
4. The artisan crafted the beautiful sculpture __________ like clay and stone.	from raw materials
5. He navigated the complex situation __________ relying on his instincts.	by the seat of one’s pants
6. The programmer coded the software __________, starting with a blank screen.	from the ground up
7. The artist created the painting __________, using only his own creativity.	without any help
8. The chef made the gourmet meal __________, using only the freshest ingredients.	from raw materials
9. The pilot landed the plane safely __________, despite the malfunctioning equipment.	by the seat of one’s pants
10. After the failure, they decided to approach the problem __________.	anew

Exercise 2: Sentence Rewriting

Rewrite the following sentences using an alternative to “from scratch” that maintains the original meaning.

Original Sentence	Rewritten Sentence
1. She baked the bread from scratch.	She baked the bread from basic ingredients.
2. He built the computer from scratch.	He built the computer from component parts.
3. They started the project from scratch.	They started the project from the beginning.
4. She learned to play the piano from scratch.	She learned to play the piano from the rudiments.
5. He created the website from scratch.	He created the website from the ground up.
6. The company was built from scratch.	The company was built from zero.
7. The team solved the problem from scratch.	The team solved the problem from first principles.
8. She designed the dress from scratch.	She designed the dress using fundamental elements of design.
9. He managed the event from scratch.	He managed the event by the seat of his pants.
10. They rebuilt the city from scratch.	They rebuilt the city anew.

Exercise 3: Contextual Usage

Choose the best alternative to “from scratch” for each context below. Explain your choice.

Context	Possible Alternatives	Best Choice and Explanation
1. A software developer creating a new application.	(from the ground up, improvisationally, from raw materials)	From the ground up: This emphasizes the systematic and thorough nature of software development.
2. A chef preparing a dish with limited ingredients.	(from basic ingredients, single-handedly, from the beginning)	From basic ingredients: This highlights the use of fundamental components in cooking.
3. An entrepreneur starting a business with no initial capital.	(from zero, anew, from the rudiments)	From zero: This emphasizes the lack of initial resources.
4. An engineer designing a bridge using physics principles.	(from first principles, by the seat of one’s pants, without any help)	From first principles: This emphasizes the use of fundamental assumptions and reasoning.
5. A community rebuilding after a natural disaster.	(anew, from component parts, from the grassroots level)	Anew: This highlights the fresh start and renewed effort after the disaster.
6. A student learning a new language.	(from the rudiments, improvisationally, from raw materials)	From the rudiments: This emphasizes beginning with the basic skills and knowledge.
7. A musician performing an unplanned solo.	(improvisationally, from the ground up, without any help)	Improvisationally: This highlights the spontaneous and creative approach.
8. A person fixing a car with no assistance.	(without any help, from basic ingredients, from the beginning)	Without any help: This emphasizes the lack of assistance in the process.
9. A team revising a project after a setback.	(anew, from component parts, by the seat of one’s pants)	Anew: This emphasizes the fresh start and revised approach.
10. A politician starting a campaign with local supporters.	(at the grassroots level, from zero, from raw materials)	At the grassroots level: This suggests starting with the most basic or local elements.

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, consider exploring the etymology of the phrase “from scratch” and its cultural variations. Research how different languages express similar concepts.

Analyze literary works and speeches to identify instances where alternatives to “from scratch” are used for rhetorical effect.

Also, delve into the psychological implications of starting from scratch. Consider how the act of creating something from nothing can foster resilience, creativity, and a sense of accomplishment.

Explore the connection between “starting from scratch” and concepts like innovation, entrepreneurship, and personal growth.

FAQ

1. What is the origin of the phrase “from scratch”?The phrase “from scratch” originates from racing, where a “scratch line” was the starting point for runners who were not given a handicap. This meant they had to start from the very beginning, hence the association with starting something without any advantage or preparation.
2. Are there any regional variations in the use of “from scratch”?While the meaning of “from scratch” is consistent across different English-speaking regions, the frequency of its use and the preferred alternatives may vary. For example, some regions might favor “from the ground up” more than others.
3. How can I improve my ability to choose the best alternative to “from scratch”?Practice using the different alternatives in various contexts. Pay attention to the nuances of each phrase and consider the specific aspect of “from scratch” that you want to emphasize. Reading widely and listening to native speakers can also help you develop a better sense of which alternatives are most appropriate in different situations.
4. Can “from scratch” be used in a negative context?Yes, “from scratch” can be used in a negative context to express frustration or difficulty. For example, “Having to redo the entire project from scratch was incredibly frustrating.”
5. What are some common collocations with “from scratch”?Common collocations include “build from scratch,” “create from scratch,” “start from scratch,” “make from scratch,” and “develop from scratch.”
6. Is it better to use “from scratch” or one of its alternatives in formal writing?In formal writing, consider using more precise and sophisticated alternatives like “from first principles,” “from the rudiments,” or “from the ground up.” These alternatives can add clarity and depth to your writing.
7. How does the context affect the choice of alternative?The context plays a crucial role in determining the best alternative. For example, if you are talking about cooking, “from basic ingredients” would be more appropriate than “from the ground up.” If you are talking about building a business, “from zero” might be aappropriate choice.

Conclusion

Mastering alternatives to “from scratch” enhances your ability to communicate effectively and precisely. By understanding the nuances of each alternative and practicing their usage in various contexts, you can enrich your vocabulary and express your ideas with greater clarity and sophistication.

Whether you are writing a formal report, delivering a speech, or simply engaging in everyday conversation, having a range of options at your disposal will make you a more confident and articulate communicator.