upon discovery

USAGE SUMMARY

"upon discovery" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to refer to the act of discovering something. For example: "Upon discovery of the stolen jewelry, the police notified the store owner immediately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Upon discovery, most foreigners favorably altered their misperceptions.

The New York Times

No word on whether Lucas included directions within the capsule to revise its contents upon discovery.

The Guardian

He sent his faculties out upon discovery, into worlds where only imagination can travel".

The New York Times - Books

Upon discovery of the illness, it is common for the diseased to scream and run away.

The New Yorker

Upon discovery it is bound to generate resentment, anger and possibly revolt".

The New York Times

Renewed interest in the legend during the 19th century followed upon discovery of the old poems.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Upon discovery, a couple of dozen other asteroids have been classed level 1 or more, only to be downgraded later.

The Guardian

Upon discovery and with due apologies, the widow had found him charming and understanding - the only person that would listen to her talk.

The New Yorker

"Discovery upon discovery, and invention after invention, have neither lessened the toil of those who most need respite, nor brought plenty to the poor," George wrote.

The New York Times

In September last year, 23 Cambodian would-be loggers fled their traffickers upon discovery that Siamese rosewood was their target, and handed themselves over to the Thai police, according to the Cambodia Daily.

The Guardian

Upon discovery by Logan, William is immediately tied to a chair and forced to watch as Logan, through the medium of eviscerating Dolores, attempts to prove once and for all that Westworld is just a game.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upon discovery" to clearly indicate a sequence of events, where an action or consequence immediately follows the act of finding something. This creates a cause-and-effect relationship in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "upon discovery" in very informal or conversational writing. While grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal or stilted in casual contexts. Opt for simpler alternatives like "when they found" or "after discovering" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon discovery" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase introducing a circumstance or condition. It sets the stage for an event that immediately follows the act of finding or uncovering something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

31%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

19%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "upon discovery" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, that indicates a direct temporal relationship between finding something and a subsequent event. Its usage spans from formal scientific reports to neutral news articles, showcasing its versatility, though its formality might be unsuitable for casual conversation. While alternatives like "on finding" or "after discovering" exist, "upon discovery" provides a distinct emphasis on immediacy and consequence. When writing with "upon discovery", ensure clarity by linking the discovery directly to its subsequent action. Misusing "upon discovery" often involves applying it to overly informal contexts, which can dilute its strength and appear unnatural.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on finding

Replaces "discovery" with "finding", slightly less formal.

after discovering

Uses a more verbose structure with "after" and the gerund "discovering".

when discovered

Changes the preposition to "when", focusing on the time of discovery.

following the finding

More formal and emphasizes the result of the act of finding.

after the discovery

Slightly more descriptive, specifying "after the discovery" happened.

once it was found

A more explicit and less concise way of expressing the same concept.

with the revelation

Emphasizes the revealing aspect, suitable when the discovery is surprising.

as soon as it was detected

Focuses on detection, suitable when the discovery involves sensing something.

at the time of finding

Focuses on the precise moment when something is found.

in the event of discovery

Presents the discovery as a hypothetical event.

FAQs

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

Use "upon discovery" to indicate that something happens immediately after something is found. For example, "Upon discovery of the artifact, the archaeologists carefully documented its location".

What are some alternatives to using "upon discovery"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "on finding", "after discovering", or "when discovered" instead of "upon discovery".

Is "upon discovery" more formal than "after discovery"?

Yes, "upon discovery" generally carries a more formal tone than "after discovery". The choice between the two depends on the desired level of formality in your writing.

What's the difference between "upon discovery" and "upon revelation"?

"Upon discovery" refers to the act of finding something, while "upon revelation" suggests something previously hidden is suddenly made known. The latter implies a more significant or surprising disclosure.