on arriving

USAGE SUMMARY

"on arriving" is an idiomatic phrase that is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe an action that occurs upon arriving at a destination. For example: On arriving at the airport, I noticed a large crowd of people waiting for their flights.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

On arriving over the fort, one was shot down by ground fire, and the other withdrew.

Wikipedia

On arriving at Princeton, Pecotic hoped to one day work his way into the team's lineup.

Princeton University

A population that increases on arriving in a new habitat can do so in one of three ways.

Evolutionary Applications

On arriving here three years ago, Mr Stradley bought two abandoned theatres and is restoring one.

Independent

Plan on arriving even earlier!

Columbia University

ON arriving in downtown Nashville, look up.

The New York Times - Travel

On arriving at the Barcoo camp, Burke found it deserted.

Encyclopedia Britannica

On arriving here, freed blacks encountered a wall of racism.

The New York Times

Seve was in good form on arriving at Augusta.

The Guardian - Sport

On arriving he held up lone $20. bill.

The New Yorker

Our family was torn apart on the platform on arriving.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "on arriving", ensure the subject of the main clause is the same as the implied subject of the arriving action. For example, "On arriving at the station, I bought a ticket."

Common error

Avoid dangling modifiers. Incorrect: "On arriving at the airport, the luggage was lost." Correct: "On arriving at the airport, I discovered the luggage was lost."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on arriving" functions as an introductory prepositional phrase, modifying the main clause by indicating the timing or condition under which the action in the main clause occurs. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is a correct and usable idiom.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Academia

19%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Science

17%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "on arriving" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase that establishes a clear temporal relationship between an arrival and a subsequent action. Ludwig confirms its correctness and widespread use across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. To use it effectively, ensure the subject of the phrase matches the subject of the main clause to avoid misplaced modifiers. While alternatives like "upon arrival" exist, "on arriving" maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

upon arrival

This alternative is a more formal way of expressing the same concept.

after arriving

This alternative uses a different preposition to indicate sequence.

following arrival

This alternative replaces "on" with "following" indicating a sequential relationship.

when arriving

This alternative uses a conjunction to introduce a time clause.

as they arrived

This alternative changes the subject to a plural pronoun and uses past tense.

once they had arrived

This alternative uses a perfect tense to emphasize the completion of the arrival.

subsequent to arrival

This alternative is a very formal and somewhat stilted way of saying the same thing.

at the point of arrival

This alternative is more descriptive and less concise.

with their arrival

This alternative shifts the focus to the arrival itself.

after they got there

This alternative is much more informal and uses simpler vocabulary.

FAQs

How to use "on arriving" in a sentence?

Use "on arriving" to describe an action that happens immediately after someone or something gets to a specific place. For example, "On arriving home, I immediately took a nap."

What can I say instead of "on arriving"?

You can use alternatives like "upon arrival", "after arriving", or "following arrival" depending on the level of formality you want to convey.

Is it better to say "on arriving" or "upon arriving"?

"On arriving" and "upon arrival" are both grammatically correct and have very similar meanings. "Upon arrival" is generally considered more formal.

What's the difference between "on arriving" and "after arriving"?

"On arriving" implies that the action in the main clause happens almost immediately after arriving. "After arriving" suggests that some time may have passed between the arrival and the subsequent action.