upon

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "upon" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adverb that can mean "on" or "at". Example sentence: "I will call you upon arrival at the station."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

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

The growing gulf between Saudi Arabia and its more sceptical western partners is nowhere more apparent than in the key area of security and defence cooperation, upon which the relationship was founded in 1915.

The Guardian

Instead he said he was aware he might have to call upon them "to fight and to put your lives at risk".

The Guardian

One issue upon which they stuck fast - Grade apparently threatened to resign over it - was their opposition to "top-slicing" of the BBC licence fee.

The Guardian - Opinion

Flashman's increasingly frequent appearances at Westminster are now being remarked upon even by MPs in his own party".

The Guardian

I cheered upon seeing female athletes talk periods in response to Watson, including Annabel Croft, Paula Radcliffe, and athlete Jessica Judd, who told the BBC that doctors trialled a drug on her because she had her period, and it didn't work.

The Guardian - Opinion

We are creatures of habit, particularly when it comes to the bad ones, and struggle to adjust when called upon to expand beyond behavioural settings hardwired in our youth.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A strike at the BBC followed, and upon his return Milne, fought the governors, arguing the programme should be broadcast.

The Guardian

"Even at 18, a mentally voracious young woman cannot live entirely upon scenery," she wrote, adding that she would have been in danger of "dying of spontaneous combustion" had she not had her diary to write and an interesting curate in a nearby village.

The Guardian - Film

When a UK Labour leader states live on television, as Ed Miliband did, that he would rather inflict upon the people five years of a rightwing, cuts-driven Tory administration rather than do any deals with another left-of-centre party, you know the time has come to let them go.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Alex McDowell – head of legacy and tribute fundraising at NSPCC and chair of Remember a Charity Alex's fundraising career has included roles in the higher education sector, direct marketing and community fundraising as well as serving as head of fundraising at The Shakespeare Hospice in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Alex will be online from 1pm.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upon" to add a touch of formality to your writing, especially in contexts where "on" might seem too casual. It's particularly effective in legal, academic, or literary writing.

Common error

Avoid using "upon" in everyday conversation or informal writing. Sticking to "on" in casual contexts keeps your language natural and avoids sounding pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The preposition "upon" primarily functions to indicate a relationship of being above and in contact with, or being directly supported by something. It can also denote a point in time or a sequence of events, as demonstrated in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "upon" serves as a more formal alternative to "on", often used in legal, academic, and literary writing to add a touch of elegance. While grammatically correct, overusing "upon" in informal contexts can sound pretentious, so it's best reserved for situations where formality is desired. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides examples of its usage in various contexts. As shown in the analysis, it commonly features in news and media, highlighting its suitability for professional communication. Therefore, understand the subtle difference in register when choosing between "on" and "upon" to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on

This is the most direct and common synonym, suitable for almost any context where "upon" is used.

on top of

Implies a physical placement or a sequential addition, emphasizing the spatial or temporal relationship.

following

Indicates a sequence or consequence, often used in temporal contexts.

after

Specifically denotes a temporal sequence, suitable when indicating events that occur one after the other.

in the event of

Highlights a conditional or contingent relationship, emphasizing what will happen if something else occurs.

subsequent to

A more formal way to indicate a temporal sequence, often used in legal or academic writing.

in relation to

Focuses on the connection or relevance between two things, highlighting their relationship.

with regard to

Introduces a specific topic or aspect being discussed, often used in formal contexts.

concerning

Emphasizes the topic or subject matter, suitable for introducing what something is about.

regarding

Similar to "concerning", but slightly less formal, still used to introduce a topic.

FAQs

How to use "upon" in a sentence?

"Upon" is typically used as a more formal alternative to "on". For example, "The decision was based "upon" careful consideration" is more formal than "The decision was based on careful consideration".

What can I say instead of "upon"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "on", "after", or "following". The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize a spatial, temporal, or causal relationship.

Which is correct, "based on" or "based upon"?

Both "based on" and "based upon" are grammatically correct, but "based on" is more common and generally preferred in modern English. "Based upon" is considered more formal and can sound archaic in some contexts.

What's the difference between "on" and "upon"?

"Upon" is a more formal and somewhat archaic alternative to "on". While they can often be used interchangeably, "upon" adds a touch of elegance or solemnity to the writing. In modern usage, "on" is generally preferred for its simplicity.