'set up a new world record' or 'set a new world record'?
Which one is correct: 'set up a new world record' or 'set a new world record'?

More context:
I saw a sentence in a very old english book which says: "Debbie hopes to set up a new world record." While in the dictionary, I only find the phrase "set a record", so I am kind of confused. Do people still say 'set up a record' now?

Question

'set up a new world record' or 'set a new world record'?
Which one is correct: 'set up a new world record' or 'set a new world record'?

More context:
I saw a sentence in a very old english book which says: "Debbie hopes to set up a new world record." While in the dictionary, I only find the phrase "set a record", so I am kind of confused. Do people still say 'set up a record' now?

Answer

Well... if you are referring to a past tense event wherein a person beat the old world record, then you say that they "set a new world record."

Answer

To use the term "set up" in English means to arrange or organize something.  But, once again, English is "lots of fun" because you can "set up" a plot in  a movie; you can "set up" machinery to be used; you can "set up" balls on a billiard table; you can "set up" someone to be tricked or fooled.  In your example it looks like "set a new world record" (beat the existing record world record) is correct.  If one were to "set up" a new world record it means organizing what needs to be done to accomplish the task.