upon discovery that

USAGE SUMMARY

"upon discovery that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when something is discovered unexpectedly. For example: "Upon discovery that the man had a criminal record, the police arrested him immediately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

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

Apart from a brief and partial acknowledgment, spurred by petitioner's concession that the state cases might warrant exploration, the Court has been content simply to compare the terms of the statute with the provisions of the Fourth Amendment; upon discovery that their words differ, it has concluded that the statute is constitutionally impermissible.

Cornell University

Works such as Kimberly Peirce's film, Boys Don't Cry, in which Hillary Swank's Oscar-winning portrayal of the real Brandon Teena, a transgendered teen who was raped and murdered upon discovery that he was biologically female, will remain beacons of political activism and resistance for generating collective empathy for the tragic victims of hate crimes.

Huffington Post

If a toy is hidden in a matchbox then the matchbox put under a pillow and then, without the child seeing, the toy is slipped out of the matchbox and the matchbox then given to the child, the child will look under the pillow upon discovery that it is not in the matchbox.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

This kind of patent -- if it is based upon a discovery that is novel, non-obvious and has practical utility – is virtually unassailable and will run for 20 years from the date of filing.

Forbes

The last of these mental expansions occurred in the early 1920s, and it hinged upon an earlier discovery that was made by a computer not a machine, but a woman.In 1895 Henrietta Leavitt became part of a team of women who were employed as "computers" by the Harvard College Observatory.

The Economist

Responding to the cloning debate in 1997, President Clinton said, "Any discovery that touches upon human creation is not simply a matter of scientific inquiry.

HuffPost

"But this much we do know: Any discovery that touches upon human creation is not simply a matter of scientific inquiry, it is a matter of morality and spirituality as well". Members of the National Bioethics Advisory Commission are expected to report back to the president this spring.

Los Angeles Times

Barnett Frummer happened upon the discovery that Ted Mack's "Original Amateur Hour" on TV was Pop & maybe even Camp.

The New Yorker

The shock upon the discovery that the truth was elsewhere, and that others could do the really important job rather more effectively, was sometimes pitiful to behold.

The Guardian - Sport

By Calvin Trillin The New Yorker, April 17 , 1965P. 40 Barnett Frummer happened upon the discovery that Ted Mack's "Original Amateur Hour" on TV was Pop & maybe even Camp.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upon discovery that" to denote an immediate consequence or action following an unexpected revelation. It adds a sense of immediacy and surprise to your writing.

Common error

While "upon discovery that" is grammatically correct, avoid overusing it in formal writing. Consider alternatives like "after finding out that" or "once it was discovered that" for a more varied tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon discovery that" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a dependent clause. It indicates the temporal context or condition that triggers a subsequent action or realization, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "upon discovery that" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate a moment of realization or finding something out, often triggering a subsequent action. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, the phrase is relatively rare, primarily appearing in news, science, and wiki contexts. For alternative options, consider "on discovering that" or "after finding out that", adjusting based on the desired level of formality. It's essential to use this phrase judiciously, particularly in formal writing, to maintain a varied and engaging tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on discovering that

Replaces "upon discovery" with "on discovering", maintaining the sense of immediacy but using a different preposition and gerund.

after finding out that

Uses a more explicit verb phrase "finding out" instead of "discovery", making the sentence slightly less formal.

once it was discovered that

Shifts the focus to the passive voice and adds a temporal conjunction "once", indicating a point in time after the discovery.

when it became clear that

Emphasizes the clarity of the discovery, suggesting a gradual realization rather than an immediate finding.

with the realization that

Replaces "discovery" with "realization", highlighting the cognitive aspect of understanding something.

on the revelation that

Uses "revelation" to suggest a surprising or important discovery.

following the finding that

Emphasizes the sequence of events, with the finding preceding subsequent actions or realizations.

as soon as it was learned that

Highlights the speed with which the information was acquired, using "as soon as" to create a sense of urgency.

in light of the fact that

Introduces a more formal tone, suggesting that the discovery serves as a basis for a decision or conclusion.

given the knowledge that

Implies that the information was already known or accepted as true.

FAQs

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

Use "upon discovery that" to indicate something that happens immediately after a revelation. For example, "Upon discovery that the documents were forged, the deal was called off."

What's a more formal alternative to "upon discovery that"?

For a more formal tone, you might use "in light of the fact that" or "given the knowledge that". These alternatives are suitable for academic or professional writing.

Is "upon discovery of" different from "upon discovery that"?

"Upon discovery of" is followed by a noun phrase (e.g., "upon discovery of the artifact"), while "upon discovery that" introduces a clause (e.g., "upon discovery that it was missing").

What can I say instead of "upon discovery that" to sound less formal?

Less formal alternatives include "after finding out that", "when they realized that", or simply "once they found out that".