When they arrived

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "When they arrived" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate a specific time or event when a group of people reached a destination. Example: "When they arrived at the party, everyone was already dancing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

When they arrived, it was cold.

The New Yorker

When they arrived, DataWind executives were shocked.

The New York Times

When they arrived he was gone.

The New York Times

When they arrived, the second bomb detonated.

The New York Times

When they arrived, 17 were immediately shot.

The Economist

When they arrived, many were pleasantly surprised.

The New Yorker

When they arrived, the band was mobbed.

The New York Times - Magazine

When they arrived, I cried.

The Guardian - Opinion

When they arrived, Arefaine was stunned.

The New Yorker

When they arrived, the doctor was ashen.

The New Yorker

When they arrived, it was empty.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "When they arrived" to clearly establish a temporal relationship between the arrival of a group and a subsequent event or observation. This helps in creating a clear sequence of actions or states in your narrative.

Common error

Ensure that the pronoun "they" has a clear and identifiable referent within the context. Ambiguity can arise if it's unclear who "they" refers to, leading to confusion for the reader. Specify the group you're talking about before using "When they arrived".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "When they arrived" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main clause by specifying when the action in the main clause occurred. As evidenced by Ludwig, this construction effectively establishes a temporal context for subsequent events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

8%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "When they arrived" is a grammatically correct and very commonly used phrase to introduce a dependent clause of time. It is used to set the context for events that occurred upon the arrival of a group of people. As validated by Ludwig, the phrase is suitable for various writing registers, from news articles to scientific papers, though it appears most frequently in news and media sources. Related phrases, such as "Upon their arrival" or "As soon as they got there", can offer alternative ways to express similar ideas, depending on the level of formality and desired emphasis. Ensure clarity by making sure the pronoun "they" has a clear referent to avoid confusion. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is usable in written English, thus solidifying its legitimacy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Upon their arrival

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the act of arriving itself.

On reaching their destination

This phrase explicitly mentions the destination, adding clarity.

As soon as they got there

This is less formal, focuses on the immediacy of the subsequent event.

After they reached the place

This explicitly states reaching a place, providing more detail.

Once they were on site

This is more suitable for professional context related to being on some working location.

The moment they turned up

This alternative is less formal, emphasizes the act of appearing or showing up.

Subsequent to arriving

This is more formal and places emphasis on the chronological sequence.

Following their entrance

This suggests a more formal or theatrical context.

At their coming

This is a somewhat archaic or literary alternative.

As they made it there

This colloquial option, focuses on accomplishment of arrival.

FAQs

How can I use "When they arrived" in a sentence?

"When they arrived" introduces a dependent clause indicating the timing of an event. For example, "When they arrived, the party had already started" shows that the party was in progress at the time of their arrival.

What are some alternatives to "When they arrived"?

Alternatives include "upon their arrival", "on reaching their destination", or "as soon as they got there", depending on the desired level of formality and context.

Is it better to use "When they arrived" or "After they arrived"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "When they arrived" implies simultaneity between the arrival and the subsequent event, while "After they arrived" emphasizes that the arrival preceded the subsequent event. Choose the one that accurately reflects the sequence you wish to convey.

Can I start a sentence with "When they arrived"?

Yes, starting a sentence with "When they arrived" is grammatically correct and commonly used. Ensure that a comma separates the dependent clause from the main clause: "When they arrived, everyone greeted them warmly."