at upheaval

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at upheaval" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is "in upheaval," which describes a state of disorder or turmoil. Example: "The country was in upheaval after the sudden change in government."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The petition arrives at a time of upheaval at the EPA under President Donald Trump.

Huffington Post

Both Gregory and Ireson are distressed at the upheaval that the new "bedroom tax" – which comes into force at the start of next month – has unleashed, and angry that their unwanted moves will end up costing the government more.

The Guardian

Passing a massive scoreboard that overlooks the 15th green, Woods peeked at the upheaval taking place on the leader board.

The New York Times - Sports

Officially, of course, Israel is no more than a "bystander," wearily looking on at the upheaval in Egypt.

The New York Times

This, in turn, hints at an upheaval in markets, price mechanisms, and organisation models, which are based on the assumption of scarcity.

European Journal of Futures Research

The 42-year-old spent six years at Borough Park but resigned on a day of upheaval at the club that saw a change in chairman and majority shareholder.

BBC

She has been on the boards of companies as diverse as Box and Gap, and currently is on the board of directors at Microsoft, in addition to her executive roles at NIO. (Given the upheaval at Uber and Warrior's current automotive role, it will be interesting if her name gets floated as a possible executive to refill Uber's bench, too).

TechCrunch

We meet at a country house hotel not far from where she lives because of upheaval at home: she is building a barn on her 100-acre farm.

The Guardian - Books

Money in, money out One of the principal issues at play in the upheaval at the auction houses concerns the use of guarantees – baseline payments to consignors made whether or not a lot sells.

The Guardian - Arts

Only a Fauve-influenced Arthur B. Carles landscape and a jazzy woodcut and sculpture by Walt Kuhn hint at the aesthetic upheaval manifested at the 1913 Armory Show, which several members of the group helped to organize.

The New York Times

His death comes at time of upheaval for Lazard.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "in upheaval" instead of "at upheaval". The correct preposition clarifies that something exists within a state of disruption or significant change.

Common error

Avoid using "at" to describe a state of being. "At" typically indicates a location or point in time, whereas "in" correctly denotes a condition or state, such as "in upheaval".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at upheaval" is intended to function as a prepositional phrase, modifying a noun or verb by indicating a state or condition. However, according to Ludwig, this usage is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "in upheaval".

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at upheaval" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Ludwig indicates the correct phrasing is "in upheaval". The intended meaning is to describe something as being in a state of turmoil or significant change. When writing, it's best to use "in upheaval" or other alternatives like "in turmoil" or "undergoing upheaval" to accurately convey your intended meaning. Therefore, it is crucial to use "in" rather than "at" to avoid grammatical errors and ensure clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in turmoil

Replaces "at" with "in" to correct the grammatical structure and uses the word "turmoil" to reflect a state of disturbance.

in disarray

Similar to "in turmoil" but emphasizes a lack of order and organization during the disruptive event.

undergoing upheaval

Focuses on the process of change and disruption rather than the state itself.

experiencing disruption

Highlights the disruptive nature of the event or situation.

facing instability

Emphasizes the lack of stability as a key characteristic of the situation.

amidst the chaos

Highlights the chaotic nature of the situation.

in a state of flux

Focuses on the constantly changing and uncertain nature of the situation.

grappling with turbulence

Turbulence indicates violent or unsteady movement of air or water, or some other kind of violent disruptive change.

embroiled in transformation

This implies deep involvement in a transformative process, often suggesting difficulty or complexity.

contending with instability

Emphasizes the struggle to manage or cope with the unstable conditions.

FAQs

How to correctly use the term "upheaval" in a sentence?

The correct preposition to use with "upheaval" is "in", not "at". For example, "The country was "in upheaval" after the revolution" is correct, while "The country was at upheaval after the revolution" is incorrect.

Is "at upheaval" ever correct in English?

No, "at upheaval" is not considered correct in standard English. The proper phrasing is to use the preposition "in", as in ""in upheaval"", to describe a state of significant disruption or turmoil.

What preposition should I use to describe something experiencing upheaval?

Use the preposition "in". The phrase ""in upheaval"" describes a situation or entity undergoing significant change, disruption, or turmoil.

Are there other ways to describe a situation similar to "in upheaval"?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "in turmoil", "in disarray", or "undergoing upheaval" depending on the specific context you want to convey.