On arriving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "On arriving" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the moment or action of reaching a destination. Example: "On arriving at the airport, I realized I had forgotten my passport."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

On arriving over the fort, one was shot down by ground fire, and the other withdrew.

Wikipedia

On arriving at Princeton, Pecotic hoped to one day work his way into the team's lineup.

Princeton University

On arriving here three years ago, Mr Stradley bought two abandoned theatres and is restoring one.

Independent

On arriving at the Barcoo camp, Burke found it deserted.

Encyclopedia Britannica

On arriving here, freed blacks encountered a wall of racism.

The New York Times

On arriving he held up lone $20. bill.

The New Yorker

On arriving in Texas, Jasira experiences immediate culture shock.

The New York Times

On arriving here in Libya, I set out to comfort his widow.

The New York Times

On arriving in New York, he found himself famous, with editors and publishers offering lucrative contracts.

Encyclopedia Britannica

On arriving at 10 Downing Street she paraphrases the Prayer of St. Francis of Assissi.

Independent

On arriving, he was told by other inmates that he looked like a ghost.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "On arriving" to clearly indicate the start of a sequence of events that immediately follow the act of reaching a destination. This helps create a concise and chronological narrative.

Common error

Ensure the subject performing the action described after "On arriving" is clearly identified and logically connected. Avoid dangling modifiers that create ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "On arriving" functions as an introductory prepositional phrase, modifying the main clause by specifying the timing or condition under which the action in the main clause occurs. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Wiki

15%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "On arriving" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase that helps establish a clear temporal sequence in writing. According to Ludwig AI, it is perfectly usable in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media, Wiki, and Academic contexts, it serves to connect the act of reaching a destination with subsequent actions or events. While versatile, writers should ensure clear subject-verb agreement to avoid misplaced modifiers. For more formal settings, alternatives like "Upon arrival" may be preferable. Ludwig provides many useful examples of "On arriving" in context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Upon arrival

More formal synonym, using a noun instead of a gerund.

When arriving

Introduces a clause specifying a time of arrival.

After arriving

Specifies an action that occurs after the arrival.

Having arrived

Uses a perfect participle to emphasize the completed action of arriving.

Reaching the destination

Focuses on the act of reaching a specific place.

At the point of arrival

Highlights a specific moment of reaching a place.

As soon as arriving

Emphasizes the immediacy of an action following arrival.

Subsequent to arrival

More formal and emphasizes the sequence of events.

Following the arrival

Similar to "subsequent to arrival", focusing on the events that follow.

After the journey

A broader term focusing on the conclusion of a trip or journey.

FAQs

How can I use "On arriving" in a sentence?

"On arriving" introduces an action occurring immediately after arrival. For example, "On arriving at the hotel, I checked in."

What's the difference between "On arriving" and "Upon arrival"?

"On arriving" is a gerund phrase, while "Upon arrival" is a prepositional phrase using a noun. Both are grammatically correct, but "Upon arrival" may sound more formal than "On arriving".

What are some alternatives to "On arriving"?

You can use phrases like "Upon arrival", "After arriving", or "When arriving" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "On arriving to" instead of "On arriving at"?

While "On arriving" implies movement and destination, it's more idiomatic to use "at" or "in" to specify the location. Therefore, "On arriving at" or "On arriving in" are more grammatically correct than "On arriving to".