on our return

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on our return" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you have gone somewhere, and you are planning to come back from the same place. For example: We are planning a day trip to the beach, and we will bring food and drinks with us. On our return, we will stop at a restaurant on the way back home.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But we had problems on our return trip.

The New York Times

On our return to Britain, the depressing signals continued.

The Guardian

Midway, on our return, we were overtaken by the agonized father and his attendants.

Columbia University

The soothing nature of rail travel was underscored at Barcelona airport on our return journey.

The Guardian - Travel

Leslie and I reassured George that they would be there on our return trip.

The New York Times - Travel

The sight of the lodge on our return from watching the sun set was jaw-dropping.

The Guardian - Travel

Our Uniting Church at South Sydney held a blessing ceremony for our family on our return.

The Guardian

Friends told us we'd find the country much changed on our return.

The Guardian - Opinion

On our return, a few days later, the sheet of specials had become the sole menu.

The New York Times

On our return up the creek, we fought both the outgoing tide and a strong wind.

The New York Times - Travel

Then came tea and cakes before we left for our afternoon walk, followed by sundowners with canapés on our return.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "on our return" to clearly indicate a point in time after a journey or absence, setting the stage for subsequent events or actions. For instance, "On our return, we found the house exactly as we had left it."

Common error

Avoid using "on our return" interchangeably with phrases like "during our return journey" or "upon returning", as these have slightly different meanings. "On our return" refers to a moment after arriving, not the process of travelling back.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on our return" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when an action occurred. It specifies the timing of an event in relation to the act of returning, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

26%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Science

13%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on our return" is a grammatically sound and versatile adverbial phrase used to specify a point in time subsequent to a journey or absence. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and commonly used. Analysis of multiple sources reveals that it's most frequently found in news and media, as well as in academic contexts. To enhance clarity and prevent misinterpretations, avoid confusing it with phrases that describe the journey itself rather than the arrival. While phrases such as "when we got back" provide similar meanings, they may not have the same nuance. Understanding the contexts and connotations of "on our return" will make your writing more precise.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after we returned

Highlights the action of returning as a completed event.

following our getting back

Similar to 'after we returned' but with a slightly different grammatical structure.

as soon as we returned

Emphasizes the immediacy of an event following the return.

upon our comeback

Focuses on the idea of regaining a previous position or state after an absence.

once we were back

Indicates a condition that is met when the return is complete.

on our arrival back

Emphasizes the moment of arrival after the return journey.

when we came back

Similar to 'when we got back', but slightly more formal.

when we got back

A more informal and direct way of expressing the time of arrival.

subsequent to our return

A more formal way of indicating the time following the return.

at the time of our return

Highlights the specific moment when the return occurred.

FAQs

How can I use "on our return" in a sentence?

You can use "on our return" to indicate something that happened after you came back from a trip or a period of absence. For example, "On our return, we found everything in order."

What's a more formal alternative to "on our return"?

A more formal alternative would be "subsequent to our return". This phrasing is suitable for academic or professional contexts.

How does "on our return" differ from "during our return journey"?

"On our return" refers to a point in time after arriving back, while "during our return journey" refers to events that happened while traveling back.

What can I say instead of "on our return" to sound less formal?

For a less formal tone, you can use phrases like "when we got back" or "after we returned".