upon catching

USAGE SUMMARY

"upon catching" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to express an event or action that happens immediately after or as a result of catching something. Example: Upon catching the ball, he threw it back to the pitcher. In this sentence, "upon catching" indicates that throwing the ball back happened immediately after catching it. Another example: Upon catching sight of his favorite restaurant, he ran inside to make a reservation. Here, "upon catching sight" suggests that as soon as he saw the restaurant, he immediately went inside to make a reservation. In both of these examples, using "upon catching" adds a sense of immediacy and quickness to the action. It can also be used to indicate a condition or requirement that must be met before something else can happen. Example: Upon catching the thief, the police officer arrested him. Here, "upon catching" suggests that the police officer had to catch the thief before they could arrest him. Overall, "upon catching" is a versatile phrase that can be used to express various meanings related to the action of catching something.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

He gave chase, and upon catching thief was given slash in face.

The New Yorker

Highsmith conjured what Therese would feel upon catching her first glimpse of Carol: "I see her the same instant she sees me, and instantly, I love her.

The New Yorker

Upon catching them out as flip-floppers, the AL shrieked that the BNP were "enemies of the nation" in so far as they had sought to harm the garment industry.In choosing this line of attack, the AL revealed an alarming degree of forgetfulness.

The Economist

All of this has been done with little to no contribution from Alfonso Soriano, the team's $136 million outfielder who was hitting.175 before going on the disabled list with a calf injury sustained while he did his signature hop upon catching a fly ball.

The New York Times - Sports

This is why, after a five-hour evening drive from El Paso through the shimmering blood-meridian expanse of West Texas, then a morning of sorting gear, meeting and greeting, and bouncing in a shuttle van through the ocotillo-and-yucca high desert of Big Bend National Park, I found my heart droop upon catching sight of a sag of umber water, its banks choked with cane.

The New Yorker

Regardless, he insisted upon catching pitchers' bullpen sessions so he could develop a feel and rapport with each pitcher.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

And once upon a time, catching a show by Hayes Carll, the Texas singer-songwriter who cut his teeth there at Bob's Sports Bar (which he chronicled in the song "I Got a Gig"), used to be as easy as snagging a crab.

The New York Times

There is also free WiFi and the restaurant's communal tables are usually busy with Obama staffers catching upon their emails as they wolf down the soul food EQUINOX 818 Connecticut Ave NW The President-elect brough this wife to Equinox for her 45th birthday last week, and everyone in the restaurant sang "Happy Birthday" as she received a special dessert from the chef.

Independent

Being persuasive in a political conversation is much like the aphorism about catching a butterfly: you catch it only when you stop trying to, letting it alight upon you.

Huffington Post

The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Indiana University (among many others) had to ban Napster upon discovering that within weeks of catching on it was generating 60percentt of all electronic traffic between the campus and the Internet.

The New York Times

The women would sometimes work for up to 20 hours a day, from 10am until 6am the following morning, barely catching some hours of sleep before they were called upon again.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upon catching" to clearly indicate that one action directly and immediately follows the act of catching something. This creates a sense of immediacy and emphasizes the connection between the two events.

Common error

Avoid using "upon catching" with future tenses or hypothetical situations. The phrase implies that the catching has already occurred, so ensure that the subsequent action is also in the past or present tense depending on context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon catching" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the timing of an action. It specifies when something happens in relation to the act of catching. As Ludwig AI confirms, this structure is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Wiki

17%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "upon catching" is a grammatically correct and commonly used prepositional phrase that indicates an action occurring immediately after the act of catching. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is versatile and conveys immediacy. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. For alternative phrasings, consider options like "after catching" or "on catching", depending on the desired level of formality. When using "upon catching", ensure correct tense usage and avoid hypothetical scenarios. Its frequent usage makes it a valuable tool for expressing chronological relationships in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after catching

Replaces 'upon' with 'after', indicating a temporal sequence.

immediately after catching

Adds emphasis on the immediacy of the action following the catch.

on catching

Uses 'on' instead of 'upon', providing a slightly more informal tone.

the moment of catching

Focuses on the specific instant of the catch.

as soon as catching

Emphasizes the promptness of the subsequent action.

following the catch

Uses a noun phrase to describe the action's timing.

right after the catch

Informal alternative emphasizing immediacy.

with the act of catching

Emphasizes the process of catching.

in the process of catching

Highlights the duration and context of catching.

during the catching of

A more formal and elaborate way of expressing the timing.

FAQs

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

Use "upon catching" to describe an action that happens immediately after someone or something catches something else. For example, "Upon catching the ball, he threw it back."

What are some alternatives to "upon catching"?

Alternatives include "after catching", "immediately after catching", or "on catching". The choice depends on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is "upon catching" formal or informal?

"Upon catching" is generally considered more formal than alternatives like "after catching" or "on catching". It's suitable for professional writing and news reports.

What's the difference between "upon catching" and "after catching"?

While both indicate a sequence of events, "upon catching" implies a more direct and immediate consequence than "after catching". "Upon" suggests that the second action occurs almost simultaneously.