Upon contacting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Upon contacting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the action of reaching out or getting in touch with someone or something, often in a formal context. Example: "Upon contacting the customer service department, I received a prompt response to my inquiry."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Upon contacting the force plates immediately perform a maximal vertical jump.

Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics

Upon contacting with bacteria, the PIC nanosystem disintegrates presumably due to competitive binding of polycation blocks with negatively-charged bacterial surfaces.

Biomaterials

Upon contacting the initial copper nanocrystals with irregular shapes, acetylene began to decompose to form two straight fibers (the irregular tips).

Carbon

Upon contacting AT&T this morning the representative said that this is a known issue happening to a good number of customers and that they currently were waiting on management for help resolving the issue.

TechCrunch

Upon contacting the squadron, the brig's captain sent Sivori the congratulatory remarks of the British consul at Tripoli.

Wikipedia

Upon contacting the charged cellular membrane, the disorganised peptides take on the α-helical structure.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

Upon contact, however, violent explosion will occur.

The New Yorker

Some of the polyurethane soles crumbled to ash upon contact, adding to their grail-like aura.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Steam could have enveloped him upon contact, and none of his teammates would have been surprised.

The New York Times - Sports

Lead official Juan Guzman was right there on the play, and issued an immediate red upon contact.

The Guardian - Sport

The skin temperature is in the neighbourhood of 0 °C, and snow does not melt upon contact.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Upon contacting" to denote a specific moment or event that triggers a subsequent action. This construction often adds a sense of formality and precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "Upon contacting" in informal contexts where simpler alternatives like "When contacting" or "After contacting" would suffice. Overusing formal language can make your writing sound stilted or unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Upon contacting" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a dependent clause. This clause typically specifies the condition that triggers the action in the main clause. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "Upon contacting" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to indicate that an event or action immediately follows the act of making contact or communication. According to Ludwig, it is most frequently found in scientific and news contexts and carries a formal tone. When writing, use "Upon contacting" to precisely time when an event follows communication, but avoid overuse in informal writing where simpler alternatives may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

After establishing contact

Focuses on the successful establishment of contact as the prerequisite.

After making contact with

Highlights the action of making contact.

Following first contact

Stresses the importance of the initial interaction.

After getting in touch

Specifies a more informal action of establishing communication before an event.

Following communication with

Emphasizes the sequence of events, with communication preceding the subsequent action.

Once in communication with

Highlights the state of being in communication as a condition for the next action.

Subsequent to reaching out

A more formal way of saying after contacting, emphasizing the temporal order.

Once communication begins

Focuses on the start of communication as the condition.

When communication is initiated

Emphasizes the beginning of communication as the trigger.

On commencement of contact

Highlights the initial moment of contact as significant.

FAQs

How to use "Upon contacting" in a sentence?

Use "Upon contacting" to indicate something happens immediately after making contact or communicating with someone or something. For instance, "Upon contacting customer support, I received a prompt response."

What can I say instead of "Upon contacting"?

You can use alternatives like "after contacting", "when contacting", or "after getting in touch with" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "Upon contacting" or "After contacting"?

Both "Upon contacting" and "After contacting" are grammatically correct, but "Upon contacting" often implies a more immediate or formal sequence of events compared to "After contacting".

What's the difference between "Upon contacting" and "By contacting"?

"Upon contacting" indicates something happens immediately after the contact is made. "By contacting" implies that something is achieved through the act of contacting someone or something. For example, "By contacting the authorities, we were able to resolve the issue quickly."