act upon

USAGE SUMMARY

"act upon" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to mean taking action based on something that has been said or done. For example: "We must act upon the advice of the expert to have the best chance of success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is why both muscles acting upon these motions also act upon the flexion.

ROBOMECH Journal

Let's act upon them.

The Guardian - Opinion

And then we will act upon that.

The New York Times

Is this enough evidence to act upon?

The Guardian

The question is, do you act upon those orientations?

The New Yorker

It is unlikely that Tehran will act upon its claims.

The Guardian - Opinion

They will combine, and act upon, and reinforce each other.

Independent

"And that's what we're asking the Senate to act upon".

The New York Times

We felt we needed to act upon it immediately".

The New York Times - Sports

We interact with our creations, and they themselves act upon us.

The Guardian - Books

And it is not always clear how to act upon the information the test provides.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "act upon", ensure the subject clearly indicates who or what is taking the action. For example, "The committee will act upon the recommendations" is clearer than "Action will be taken upon the recommendations."

Common error

Avoid using "act upon" in overly passive constructions where the actor is unclear or omitted. This can lead to vagueness and weaken the impact of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "act upon" functions primarily as a phrasal verb, indicating the undertaking of an action as a consequence of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it signifies taking action based on something, as demonstrated in the numerous examples provided, for example 'Let's act upon them'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Academia

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "act upon" is a versatile phrasal verb used to convey the idea of taking action as a result of something. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a correct and usable phrase in written English. As demonstrated by the many examples provided, it is commonly found in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. While the phrase "act upon" is grammatically sound, writers should aim for clarity by ensuring the subject is clearly defined and avoiding overly passive constructions. Alternatives include ""take action on"" and "respond to", offering similar meanings with slight nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take action on

Focuses on the action taken as a direct response.

react to

Emphasizes the response or reaction to a stimulus.

respond to

Highlights the act of answering or dealing with something.

capitalize on

Implies taking advantage of an opportunity.

build on

Suggests using something as a foundation for further development.

implement

Focuses on putting a plan or decision into effect.

execute

Implies carrying out a task or plan.

put into practice

Emphasizes the practical application of an idea or theory.

take into account

Highlights considering something before acting.

be guided by

Suggests that decisions are based on certain principles or advice.

FAQs

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

"Act upon" means to take action based on something. For example, "The government will "take action on" the report's findings", or "The medication "responds to" the affected nerves".

What are some alternatives to saying "act upon"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like ""take action on"", "respond to", "implement", or "execute".

Is it better to say "act upon" or "act on"?

Both "act upon" and "act on" are grammatically correct and generally interchangeable. "Act upon" may sound slightly more formal, but the difference is minimal.

What does "act upon" mean in a legal context?

In a legal context, "act upon" often refers to making a decision or taking action based on specific legal advice or information. For example, "The judge will "be guided by" the evidence presented".