as soon as

USAGE SUMMARY

'as soon as' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to mean the same thing as 'immediately' or 'right away.' Here is an example: "As soon as I heard the news, I knew I had to take action."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As soon as possible.

The New York Times

As soon as Mr. O.

The New Yorker

As soon as they left.

The New Yorker

As soon as it's legal".

The New York Times

As soon as you can.

The New Yorker

As soon as they squawked, action followed.

The New York Times

As soon as I released it.

The New York Times - Sports

Sentencing may occur as soon as Thursday.

The New York Times

I can start as soon as tomorrow.

The New Yorker

A: As soon as possible.

Science Magazine

Osbon: As soon as possible.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as soon as" to clearly indicate that one event will follow directly after another, ensuring clarity in expressing sequential actions.

Common error

While "as soon as" is perfectly acceptable, avoid overuse in formal contexts. Vary your sentence structure by using alternatives like "immediately after" or "upon" to maintain a sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "as soon as" is to act as a subordinating conjunction. It introduces a dependent clause that specifies when the action in the main clause will occur. The Ludwig examples show it connecting events in time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

31%

News & Media

25%

Science

22%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

6%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as soon as" is a common subordinating conjunction used to indicate that an action will occur immediately after a specific event. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely applicable across various contexts. Its frequency in Wiki, News & Media and Science sources suggests its versatility. To avoid overuse, especially in formal writing, consider using alternatives such as "immediately" or "once" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immediately

This alternative provides a direct and concise way to express the idea of something happening without delay.

right away

This alternative is more informal and suggests an action will be taken without any hesitation.

the instant that

This alternative emphasizes the simultaneity of two events, making it slightly more formal.

once

This alternative is simpler and can replace "as soon as" in many contexts, especially when indicating a condition.

directly after

This alternative highlights the temporal sequence of events, emphasizing the immediate succession.

at once

This alternative stresses the immediacy of the action but can sound slightly old-fashioned.

in a moment

This alternative is slightly less immediate, implying something will happen very shortly.

without delay

This alternative focuses on the lack of postponement, emphasizing the promptness of the action.

on the dot

This alternative is a more informal way to emphasize that something will be done without any tardiness.

forthwith

This alternative is a more formal and somewhat archaic way to say immediately.

FAQs

How do I use "as soon as" in a sentence?

Use "as soon as" to connect two events that happen in quick succession. For example, "Call me "as soon as" you arrive" means you want the person to call you immediately after they arrive.

What can I say instead of "as soon as"?

You can use alternatives like "immediately", "right away", or "once" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "as soon as possible"?

Yes, "as soon as possible" is a common and correct idiom that means something should be done without any delay. You'll often see this as ASAP.

What's the difference between "as soon as" and "when"?

"As soon as" implies immediacy, while "when" simply indicates that something will happen at some point. For example, "Call me "as soon as" you arrive" means call immediately. "Call me when you arrive" just means call sometime after you arrive.