Upon arrival

USAGE SUMMARY

"Upon arrival" is an acceptable phrase in written English and is used to describe a particular moment in time.
For example: "Upon arrival at the airport, we were greeted by a large crowd."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Upon arrival, things looked iffy.

The New Yorker

Upon Arrival Pace yourself.

The New York Times - Health

Upon arrival I asked for an upgrade.

The New York Times - Travel

Upon arrival I was hungry.

The Guardian - Travel

Upon arrival, they are amused.

The New York Times - Travel

Upon arrival, the author shares such concerns.

The Guardian - Books

"Upon arrival, officers searched the area.

The Guardian

Upon arrival at SLCH, imaging was obtained.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

Upon arrival to Guadalajara, we walked tall together.

Huffington Post

Upon arrival, Officer Parker realized Patel did not speak English.

Huffington Post

Upon arrival, my fellow bridesmaids asked to see the stilettos.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upon arrival" to clearly indicate that an action or event occurred immediately after someone or something arrived at a specific location or destination. It adds a formal tone and emphasizes the temporal proximity.

Common error

Avoid using alternative prepositions such as "in arrival" or "at arrival". "Upon" is the correct preposition to use in this context to indicate immediacy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon arrival" typically functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by indicating when the action of the verb occurs. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples where it introduces a circumstance directly linked to the act of arriving.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "upon arrival" is a prepositional phrase used to denote that an action or event occurs immediately after someone or something arrives. Ludwig AI validates that this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. While it carries a slightly formal tone, it is generally versatile and can be used in various situations to clearly indicate the timing of events. When writing, be mindful to use "upon" instead of other prepositions and consider less formal alternatives like "on arriving" or "when we got there" depending on the desired tone and audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

On arriving

This alternative uses the gerund form of "arrive" and "on" instead of "upon", slightly altering the structure but maintaining the core meaning.

Following arrival

Using "following" emphasizes the sequence of events after the arrival.

After reaching

This option uses "reaching" instead of "arrival", focusing on the action of getting to a destination.

Subsequent to arriving

This alternative is more formal, replacing "upon" with "subsequent to" for a more sophisticated tone.

At the point of arrival

This phrase specifies the exact moment of arrival, adding a bit more precision.

Once there

A more concise way of expressing "upon arrival", particularly useful when the destination is already understood.

When they arrived

This turns the phrase into a clause, providing more context and grammatical flexibility.

As soon as they got there

This expresses immediacy, highlighting that something happened very shortly after arrival.

After making it

This option emphasizes the completion of the journey and the act of reaching the destination.

Coming into

This is more suitable when referring to the entry of a place or state.

FAQs

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

You can use "upon arrival" to indicate that something happens immediately after arriving at a place. For example, "Upon arrival, we checked into the hotel."

What are some alternatives to using "upon arrival"?

Alternatives include "on arriving", "after reaching", or "following arrival". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is "upon arrival" formal or informal?

"Upon arrival" tends to be more formal. In less formal contexts, phrases like "when we got there" or "as soon as we arrived" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "on arrival" and "upon arrival"?

Both "on arrival" and "upon arrival" are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. "Upon arrival" often suggests a slightly more immediate sequence of events compared to "on arrival", but the difference is subtle.