as we arrived

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as we arrived" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an action or event that occurred simultaneously with or immediately after the arrival of the speaker and others. Example: "As we arrived at the hotel, we were greeted by the friendly staff."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It sunk in as we arrived".

The New York Times - Sports

As we arrived, helicopters carrying sandbags were thumping overhead.

The New Yorker

Just as we arrived to the border, they closed it.

Independent

As we arrived, just before Christmas, snow started to fall.

The Guardian - Travel

But as soon as we arrived, his mood lifted.

The Guardian

These towns often seemed utterly deserted as we arrived.

The New York Times - Travel

As we arrived, the runners were already in sight.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I received Your kind letter today as we arrived in Denning.

University of California, Berkeley

'No flowers,' said the woman in reception as we arrived at the hotel.

The Guardian - Travel

As soon as we arrived, Tom spotted her walking down the hallway toward the cafeteria.

The New Yorker

Why did you?" he asked, as we arrived at my destination.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your sentence structure by using alternatives like "upon our arrival" or "when we got there" to avoid repetition.

Common error

Avoid using "as we arrived" when you actually mean an action occurred significantly after your arrival. Ensure the actions described truly coincide with the moment of arrival, not some time later.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as we arrived" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main clause by specifying when the action in the main clause occurred. Ludwig shows numerous examples of this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

14%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as we arrived" is a grammatically correct and versatile phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig, used to indicate the timing of events in relation to an arrival. It is most frequently found in news and media, but also appears in academic and formal contexts. While acceptable for general use, more formal options like "upon our arrival" might be preferred in certain settings. Remember to ensure that the described action truly coincides with the moment of arrival to avoid temporal inaccuracies.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

upon our arrival

Formal alternative, replacing the conjunction with a prepositional phrase.

on our arrival

More concise formal alternative, similar to 'upon our arrival'.

when we got there

Informal and direct way to indicate the timing of events.

at the time of our arrival

More elaborate and formal, emphasizing the specific moment.

subsequent to our arrival

Highlights the sequence of events after getting there.

following our arrival

Similar to 'subsequent to', but slightly less formal.

once we had arrived

Emphasizes the completion of the arrival before the next action.

after we arrived

Simple and direct, indicating a sequence of events.

as soon as we got there

Highlights the immediacy between arrival and the subsequent action.

the moment we arrived

Emphasizes the exact timing of an event coinciding with arrival.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "as we arrived" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases like "upon our arrival" or "on our arrival", which are generally perceived as more sophisticated.

What's the difference between "as we arrived" and "after we arrived"?

"As we arrived" implies that something happened simultaneously or immediately upon arrival. "After we arrived", on the other hand, indicates that some time passed between the arrival and the subsequent event.

Can I use "as we arrived" at the beginning of a sentence?

Yes, "as we arrived" can effectively start a sentence to set the scene or context for what followed the arrival. For example, "As we arrived, the sun began to set."

What are some less common alternatives to "as we arrived"?

Less common, but still valid, alternatives include "subsequent to our arrival" or "following our arrival", which emphasize the sequence of events in a more formal manner.