be selected upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be selected upon" is not correct and does not sound natural in written English.
It is unclear and may confuse readers, as it does not convey a clear meaning in standard usage. Example: "Candidates will be selected upon their qualifications." (This would be better phrased as "Candidates will be selected based on their qualifications.")

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

Academia

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Together, the evidence points to the remarkable versatility of melatonin as a hormone whose separable effects at different time scales may be selected upon over evolutionary time as dissociable modules to both pattern and coordinate social behaviors.

Cornell University

In such cases a sample of auxiliary data can be selected, upon which the auxiliary variable totals and means can be estimated and used together with model predictions that link the auxiliary variables with the target variable.

Forest Ecosystems

Transcription is necessary for a protogene to gain function and be selected upon.

Genome Biology and Evolution

(Mutation can also introduce novel and potentially adaptive variation, which could be selected upon as climate shifts).

Evolutionary Applications

Cryptic genetic variation that is exposed could then be selected upon, allowing 'genetic assimilation' (Waddington 1953) of beneficial phenotypes that were initially visible only under stress.

Evolutionary Applications

In this study of a large introduced herbivore, it becomes apparent that some gene pathways, such as the HIF pathway are universally important for high altitude adaptation in mammals, but several others may be selected upon based on the natural history of a species and the unique ecology of the altitude environment.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Here, treatment targets are selected upon what the client values as sources of subjective well-being in his life.

BMC Psychiatry

They are selected upon entry if their transcripts and placement exam scores are high enough.

The New York Times

Franz Roth's photographs of the dead bodies inside Lviv prisons were selected upon Hitler's personal orders and distributed to the American press via AP.

The Guardian

They indicate that bacteria carrying specific pathways and primarily carrying tmoA/xylM/xylE1 genotypes, are being selected upon BTEX contamination.

Journal of Microbiological Methods

If a different logging interval were selected upon system reset, it would be impossible to calculate how long the system had been logging unless a running tally were kept.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the criteria for selection, prefer using "based on" or "according to" for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "upon" to indicate the basis for selection. Instead of saying something is "selected upon" a factor, opt for "selected based on" or "selected according to" for better clarity and adherence to standard English.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be selected upon" functions as a passive construction indicating that a subject is chosen or picked based on specific criteria. Ludwig's analysis suggests that this phrasing is not the best option, which is confirmed by the existence of many better and more common options.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

Academia

25%

News & Media

12.5%

Less common in

Wiki

12.5%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "be selected upon" appears in some contexts, particularly in scientific and academic writing, it is generally considered non-idiomatic and less preferable than alternatives such as "be selected based on" or "be selected according to". Ludwig recommends using these alternatives for clearer and more grammatically sound communication. The tool flags this phrase as not the most correct and this is a factor to take into account.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be chosen based on

This alternative replaces "selected upon" with "chosen based on", offering a grammatically sound and more common phrasing.

be selected according to

This substitutes "upon" with "according to", clarifying that the selection follows specific guidelines or criteria.

be selected by means of

This alternative specifies that the selection is performed through a particular method or tool.

be selected in light of

This option emphasizes that the selection is made considering certain information or factors.

be selected considering

This is a shortened version of "be selected in light of", that still points to the action of considering things when selecting.

be selected on the basis of

This option adds formality and specifies the selection is based on specific principles or grounds.

be selected as a function of

Here the selection depends on another variable or situation.

be determined by

This option states the selection relies on the criteria.

be contingent upon

Expresses selection depending on particular circumstances.

hinge upon

The selection is dependent on a critical factor or condition.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "be selected upon"?

More common and grammatically sound alternatives include "be selected based on", "be selected according to", or "be chosen based on".

Is "be selected upon" grammatically correct?

While not strictly incorrect, "be selected upon" is considered non-idiomatic and less preferred compared to phrases like "be selected based on". The latter is clearer and more widely accepted.

How can I rephrase a sentence using "be selected upon" to make it sound more natural?

Replace "be selected upon" with "be selected based on" or "be selected according to". For example, instead of "Candidates will be selected upon their qualifications", use "Candidates will be selected based on their qualifications".

What's the difference between "be selected upon" and "be selected based on"?

"Be selected based on" is the standard and preferred phrasing, indicating that the selection is determined by certain criteria. "Be selected upon" can sound awkward and is less common. Using "be selected based on" ensures clarity and adheres to common usage.