Upon finishing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Upon finishing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurs after the completion of an action or task. Example: "Upon finishing the report, she submitted it to her supervisor for review."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Upon finishing, she closed the book with great satisfaction.

The New York Times - Health

Upon finishing, the scientist asked for questions, and Friedman went first.

The New Yorker

Upon finishing the salad, I wouldn't be anywhere close to satisfied.

The New York Times - Magazine

Upon finishing the song, she shouted out: "I love you, Kendrick!

Independent

Upon finishing her education, she moved to Washington, D.C., to work in national politics.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Upon finishing her Ph.D., she was offered a job in every first-rank American economics department except Stanford's.

The New Yorker

Upon finishing his new book, Whitehead considered making a return trip to West Virginia with his wife, Natasha Stovall.

The New York Times - Books

Upon finishing grammar school, Vermeil worked at his father's garage while also attending middle school and, later, high school.

The New York Times - Sports

Upon finishing high school, Clarkson moved to Los Angeles, where she unsuccessfully tried to break into show business.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Upon finishing her doctoral work, she got the offer of her dreams: a job at a crystallography lab on a quai up the river from Notre Dame.

The New Yorker

Upon finishing it, you can't help feeling a bit woozy, as if you yourself had just emerged from the confined world she captures so well.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upon finishing" to clearly indicate that one action immediately follows the completion of another. For example, "Upon finishing the presentation, he opened the floor for questions."

Common error

Avoid using "upon finishing" when there's a significant delay between the completion of one action and the start of another. "After finishing" or "Once completed" might be more appropriate in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon finishing" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase introducing a dependent clause that specifies when an action occurs. It sets the temporal context for the main clause, indicating that the action in the main clause happens directly after the completion of the action in the dependent clause. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Huffington Post

8%

Vice

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "upon finishing" is a grammatically sound and frequently used way to connect two events in time, indicating that one occurs immediately after the other. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's acceptable in a variety of contexts, ranging from news and media to scientific writing. When using "upon finishing", ensure that the actions are closely related in time to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "after completion" or "once finished" may be more suitable if there's a longer delay. Pay attention to the context to determine whether you require a more formal or immediate tone, since the word is often used in a neutral register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

once finished

Emphasizes the point in time when the action is complete.

after completion

Focuses on the completed state rather than the act of finishing.

on completion of

Formal and highlights the finished state.

with the completion of

Emphasizes the state of being complete.

following the finish

Highlights the act of reaching the end.

subsequent to finishing

More formal and emphasizes the sequence of events.

having concluded

Formal and emphasizes the act of bringing something to a close.

after the finalization of

More formal and specific, highlighting the finalized state.

at the end of

Focuses on the final point rather than the process.

post-completion

Modern and concise way to express the idea.

FAQs

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

Use "upon finishing" to connect an action with its immediate consequence. For example, "Upon finishing the exam, she felt a great sense of relief."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "upon finishing"?

You can use alternatives like "after completion", "once finished", or "on completion of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "upon finished" instead of "upon finishing"?

No, "upon finished" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "upon finishing", where "finishing" functions as a gerund (a verb acting as a noun).

What's the difference between "upon finishing" and "after finishing"?

While both phrases indicate that one action follows another, "upon finishing" often implies a more immediate sequence than "after finishing". The former suggests that the second action happens very soon after the first one concludes.