attend upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "attend upon" is correct and used in written English.
It is used to mean tending to someone's needs or providing service to them, as well as to refer to accompanying someone. For example, "The queen's attendants attended upon her during the state dinner".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

On 20 May, he was brought to the court to attend upon the Privy Council for questioning.

Yale University

There is no record of their having met that day, however, and he was commanded to attend upon them each day thereafter until "licensed to the contrary".

Yale University

Records indicate that Shakespeare and his fellow players were called away from the Globe theatre for 18 consecutive days that August to attend upon the Spanish embassy at Somerset House.

The Guardian

LIKE other parents with teenagers starting their final year in high school, Babbage is learning how fraught the whole process is these days of applying for a place at one or other university his daughter hopes to attend upon matriculation.

The Economist

A minor required by the provisions of part one of this article to attend upon instruction shall attend regularly as prescribed where he resides or is employed, for the entire time the appropriate public schools or classes are in session and shall be subordinate and orderly while so attending.

Cornell University

What is Government, but a Trust committed by All, or the Most, to One, or a Few, who are to attend upon the Affairs of All, that every one may, with the more Security, attend upon his own?

University of Chicago

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Note: any decoration attended upon pastry to be baked will only reveal itself post a wash of beaten egg.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Other desirable elements include: attending upon the event, noting a key detail to give an impression of the whole, attempts to evoke the acting and atmosphere and establishing a strong through-line on the piece.

The Guardian

Back then, it was still widely supposed that every girl's dream was to marry a handsome prince and live happily ever after in a Tyrolean castle attended upon by mice and dressed each morning by bluebirds.

The Guardian - Film

"You could sit there, drinking beer, being attended upon by handmaidens (if available), and we could watch the commentary get more and more slurred and offbeat as the day wore on".

The Guardian - Sport

Why would a young woman who has succeeded in becoming "one of the most revered young actors of her generation" -- as James Lipton solemnly describes her later that evening at an "Inside the Actors Studio" interview -- be at such pains to distance herself from the starry aura and frivolous curiosity that attends upon having a certain kind of face and body attached to a certain kind of fame?

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "attend upon", consider the formality of the context. It often implies a traditional or formal setting, so ensure it aligns with the overall tone of your writing. Use more common alternatives like "serve" or "wait on" in less formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "attend upon" in casual conversations or informal writing where simpler phrases like "help" or "assist" would be more appropriate. Overusing formal language can make your writing sound stilted or unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attend upon" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of providing service or assistance to someone. Ludwig examples show it is used to describe tending to someone's needs or accompanying them.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Academia

32%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Science

12%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "attend upon" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the act of serving, assisting, or accompanying someone, often in a formal or traditional setting. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usage in written English. While "attend upon" is less common than alternatives like "serve" or "wait on", it remains a valid option, particularly when conveying a sense of duty or formality. Its usage appears most frequently in news, academic and wiki contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wait on

Emphasizes the act of attending to someone's needs, often in a subservient role.

serve

Focuses on the act of providing a service or fulfilling a duty.

minister to

Implies providing help or service, often in a compassionate or religious context.

look after

Highlights the caring aspect of tending to someone's well-being.

assist

Focuses on providing help or support.

take care of

Similar to "look after", but can also imply managing or handling something.

be in attendance

Highlights presence and availability for service.

escort

Suggests providing guidance or protection while accompanying someone.

be present

Focuses solely on being there, without necessarily implying active service.

accompany

Emphasizes the act of going with someone.

FAQs

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

"Attend upon" is generally used to describe the act of serving or taking care of someone, often in a formal context. For example, "The servants were expected to attend upon the guests at all times."

What can I say instead of "attend upon"?

You can use alternatives like "serve", "wait on", or "look after" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "attend upon" or "attend to"?

Both phrases are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Attend upon" typically implies serving or waiting on someone, while "attend to" means to give attention to or deal with something.

What is the difference between "attend upon" and "take care of"?

"Attend upon" suggests a more formal and potentially subservient role in serving someone. "Take care of", on the other hand, is a broader term that can encompass a range of caring activities without necessarily implying a formal service relationship.