upon attempting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "upon attempting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something happens as a result of trying or making an effort to do something. Example: "Upon attempting to solve the puzzle, I realized it was more complex than I had anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Upon attempting to draw a freehand square from memory, they drew a tall, thin rectangle elongated vertically by 35%.

Johns Hopkins University

Minutes after the head pain onset, she noted mildly slurred speech, which also resolved by the following morning, and upon attempting to ambulate she felt very imbalanced, which persisted for several days.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

This gets triggered when talking to the man next to you when you start the savegame as he loads the name to use it in his dialog or upon attempting to enter the next zone, before the man talks to you and reminds you to go the other way to get the horse.

TechCrunch

Many a sorrowing weekend market shopper has found — to their peril — that upon attempting to retrace their steps through the labyrinthine lanes, that perfect little floral dress or hand-made candelabra has apparently vanished into the heady market air, never to be seen again.

BBC

Instead, the Army insisted upon attempting a landing by surprise.

Wikipedia

This resulted in their re-arrest upon attempting to leave the capital.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

The fifth section then focuses upon attempted total refutations, while the sixth is concerned with defenses, and the seventh with some traditional theodicies.

SEP

Upon attempted in situ H NMR analysis, the inability to locate the lock signal suggested paramagnetic behavior.

Angewandte Chemie - International Edition

Tricyclic dithiocarbamate 50 was successfully converted to alkene 63 under basic conditions, but degraded upon attempted thermolysis (Table  3, entry 7).

Chemistry - A European Journal

These results are in accord with the experimental fact that simple aromatics either fail to complex with hemicarcerand 2a or escape the host cavity upon attempted isolation, while larger bicyclics form isolable complexes with 2a.

Accounts of Chemical Research

LPS is only one of a cocktail of MAMPs that a plant might perceive upon attempted bacterial infection and as such its responses are expected to be more specific compared to the responses elicited by a combination of different MAMPs.

BMC Plant Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upon attempting" to add a formal tone when describing an action that immediately follows an attempt. This can enhance the sophistication of your writing.

Common error

While "upon attempting" is grammatically correct, overuse can make your writing sound stilted. Consider using "when trying" or "after attempting" for clearer, more direct communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon attempting" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb, indicating the timing or condition under which an action occurs. As shown by Ludwig, it introduces a circumstance immediately following the attempt to do something.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

29%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

12%

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "upon attempting" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate an immediate action or consequence following an effort. It's categorized as a prepositional phrase and finds frequent use in scientific and formal contexts. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its correctness and provides various examples from reputable sources. For those seeking alternatives, phrases like "when trying" or "in an attempt to" offer simpler, less formal options. Remember to consider the tone and context when choosing between "upon attempting" and its alternatives to maintain clarity and avoid unnecessary formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in an attempt to

More concise alternative that maintains a formal tone.

on trying to

More direct, simplifying the original phrase.

when endeavoring to

Formal alternative emphasizing effort, suitable for contexts requiring sophistication.

after the effort to

Focuses on the effort already made.

after making an effort to

Explicitly states the effort before the action.

on the occasion of trying

Formal and emphasizes a specific instance of trying.

in the process of trying to

Focuses on the duration of the attempt.

while seeking to

Emphasizes the goal-oriented aspect of the attempt.

when setting out to

Highlights the initiation of the attempt.

as a result of trying to

Highlights the causal relationship between attempt and outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "upon attempting" in a sentence?

The phrase "upon attempting" is used to describe something that happens immediately after someone tries to do something. For example, "Upon attempting to start the car, I realized the battery was dead."

What are some alternatives to "upon attempting"?

You can use alternatives like "when trying", "after attempting", or "in an attempt to" depending on the context.

Is "upon attempting" formal or informal?

The phrase "upon attempting" is generally considered to be more formal. Simpler alternatives like "when trying" are suitable for informal contexts.

Which is correct, "upon attempting" or "while attempting"?

Both "upon attempting" and "while attempting" are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Upon attempting" suggests an immediate consequence, while "while attempting" suggests an action that occurs during the attempt.