once acquired

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "once acquired" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to something that has been obtained or gained at a specific point in time, often implying that it will have lasting effects or benefits. Example: "The skills you develop in this course will be invaluable once acquired."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But once acquired, it is easily embraced.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Once acquired, the taste for maple runs deep.

The New York Times - Travel

Manners, once acquired, can ease your passage, but desire can drag you off course.

The New Yorker

Neither pacific ideals nor wartime hatreds, once acquired, are easily jettisoned.

The New Yorker

But once acquired, it has the cutting impact of an extra-dry gin martini.

The New York Times - Arts

But the biographical habit, once acquired, can prove hard to shake.

The New Yorker

Today's voters are consumers: they like to shop around, a habit that, once acquired, will not be lightly given up.

The Guardian

Once acquired, the town will assume responsibility for the maintenance of the park, which has existing hiking trails.

The New York Times

Police officers in El Paso once acquired drug-sniffing dogs from Czechoslovakia, and were unable to communicate with them.

The New York Times

But once acquired, through proper application to the science, knowledge about causes and consequences cannot easily be put aside.

The Guardian

Power is constantly sought through the use of means which render its effective use, once acquired, impossible.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "once acquired", ensure that the sentence clearly indicates what is being acquired and the subsequent effect or result. This helps create a clear cause-and-effect relationship.

Common error

Avoid using "once acquired" when referring to something that is continuously developing or evolving. It's best suited for describing a state or ability that is definitively obtained at a specific point.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "once acquired" functions as an adverbial clause of time, indicating when the action in the main clause occurs. It modifies the verb in the main clause by specifying the condition under which that action takes place. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a common construction in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

37%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "once acquired" functions as an adverbial clause of time, specifying the moment when something is obtained and emphasizing the resulting state or condition. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts. Its frequency is "Very common", appearing predominantly in Science and News & Media sources. When writing, ensure clarity by specifying what is being acquired and its subsequent effects. Avoid using it for continuously evolving states. By understanding its function and appropriate usage, you can effectively incorporate "once acquired" into your writing to convey temporal relationships and emphasize outcomes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after obtaining

Focuses on the action of getting something rather than the state after getting it.

upon acquisition

Highlights the moment of gaining possession or control.

after gaining

Similar to "after obtaining" but emphasizes the effort involved in getting something.

subsequently obtained

Indicates that something was received at a later time.

once attained

Emphasizes the achievement of reaching a certain level or goal.

following procurement

Formal and business-oriented, emphasizing the process of acquiring goods or services.

post-acquisition

Indicates the period or state after something has been acquired, commonly used in business contexts.

with possession secured

Emphasizes the security and certainty of having obtained something.

having come into possession

Formal and lengthy, denoting the act of taking ownership.

on receipt

Focuses on the action of receiving something, usually physical.

FAQs

How do I use "once acquired" in a sentence?

Use "once acquired" to describe the state or result after something has been obtained. For example, "Once acquired, the skill became invaluable."

What's the difference between "once acquired" and "after acquiring"?

"Once acquired" emphasizes the state following the acquisition, while "after acquiring" focuses more on the action of acquiring.

What are some alternatives to "once acquired"?

You can use alternatives such as "after obtaining", "upon acquisition", or "subsequently obtained" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "once acquired" at the beginning of a sentence?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to begin a sentence with "once acquired". It introduces an adverbial clause that modifies the main clause.