On arrival

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "On arrival" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate the moment someone or something reaches a destination. Example: "On arrival at the hotel, we were greeted by the staff and shown to our rooms."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

On arrival, her newborn baby died.

The Economist

On arrival, they were initially ostracised.

The Guardian

On arrival, she was haemodynamically stable.

Gynecological Surgery

On arrival, hemoglobin was 10.2 g/dl.

Surgical Case Reports

On arrival, the patient reported marked photophobia.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

On arrival the GCS was detected.

Critical Care

On arrival, apologize for lateness.

WikiHow

DEAD on arrival.

The Economist

— disappointing on arrival.

The New Yorker

Most were killed on arrival.

The Economist

The man was dead on arrival.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "on arrival" to succinctly describe actions or observations immediately following someone's reaching a destination. This helps maintain a clear chronological order in your narrative or report.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by ensuring "on arrival" clearly modifies the intended subject. Incorrect: "On arrival, the bags were checked." Correct: "On arrival, we checked the bags."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on arrival" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when an action occurs in relation to someone or something reaching a destination. Ludwig examples show its use in diverse contexts, describing actions taken immediately after arriving.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on arrival" is a grammatically sound and widely used adverbial phrase that specifies the timing of events relative to reaching a destination. According to Ludwig, it appears most frequently in news and media sources, followed by scientific and wiki contexts, indicating its versatility across different writing styles. It's crucial to ensure clarity by properly placing the phrase to modify the intended subject and to use it to maintain chronological precision. This phrase is effective for succinctly describing actions or observations immediately following someone's reaching a destination. Remember to avoid ambiguity by ensuring it clearly modifies the intended subject. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is appropriate for various formal and informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Upon reaching the destination

Uses a more formal tone by employing "upon" and explicitly mentioning "destination".

When they arrived

Expresses the same concept using a clause structure with a subject and verb, making it more explicit.

After arriving

Uses a gerund phrase to indicate the sequence of events, emphasizing the completion of the arrival.

At the point of arrival

More formal and descriptive, specifying a precise moment.

Following their entrance

Emphasizes the act of entering and can imply a specific location or event.

Subsequent to reaching

A highly formal alternative, suitable for academic or official contexts.

On getting there

More colloquial, indicating arrival at an unspecified location.

As soon as they got in

Implies immediacy and focuses on the action of entering a place.

After making it there

Emphasizes the effort or journey involved in arriving.

Once at the location

Highlights being present at the specific location.

FAQs

How can I use "on arrival" in a sentence?

Use "on arrival" to describe what happens immediately after someone or something reaches a destination. For example, "On arrival, the package was inspected for damage."

What are some alternatives to saying "on arrival"?

You can use phrases like "upon arrival", "after arriving", or "when they arrived" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "at arrival" instead of "on arrival"?

No, the correct preposition to use is "on". "On arrival" is the idiomatic and grammatically accepted form.

What does "dead on arrival" mean?

"Dead "on arrival"" (DOA) means that a person or thing was already dead when they reached a certain location, typically a hospital. It can also be used metaphorically to describe something that was doomed from the start.