upon doing something

USAGE SUMMARY

"upon doing something" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to talk about something that happened or will happen immediately after an event. For example, "Upon graduating high school, I decided to pursue a degree in computer science."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It takes a special kind of person to decide that the proper way to congratulate a teammate upon doing something incredibly important is to throw a cup of water at him.

The New York Times

The next step has to be focused upon doing something about the poisoned filth we've collectively nicknamed "food".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Now more than ever, Union hopes for victory in Mississippi depended upon Rosecrans doing something to prevent any further contribution by Bragg to the defense of Vicksburg.

The New York Times

The fear of being looked down upon for doing something that was legal and completely reasonable is what I find distressing.

The Guardian

And they are hidden, chanced upon while doing something else.

Huffington Post

"We try to tell people that if they know they are doing something looked upon as shady, don't mess with the I.R.S.," she said.

The New York Times

Their being is given already to them predetermined and resolute…But man is given the necessity of having to be doing something always, upon pain of succumbing, yet what he has to do is not present to him from the outset and once and for all.

SEP

Isn't work just some grave injustice visited upon the wretched who are doing something wrong?

Huffington Post

The dilettante often does not know the "correct" way to do something, and so can sometimes be better placed to happen upon an innovative way of doing something that the professional, in their fixed way of thinking, wouldn't.

Vice

"The rules can vary dramatically depending upon under what authority you're doing something," he said.

The Washington Post

"It is exactly what I want to see, and that is, that we have the dependence upon oil reduced, that we are doing something that is more in tune with climate change, we are getting investment in nuclear power... this is a French-British deal in the end that will happen".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upon doing something" to clearly indicate that one action immediately follows another. This construction is particularly effective in formal writing where precision and clarity are essential.

Common error

Avoid using "upon" interchangeably with prepositions like "on" or "after" in informal contexts, as "upon" often carries a more formal or literary tone. Using alternatives may sound more natural depending on the writing's target audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon doing something" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a clause that specifies when an action occurs. Ludwig AI validates its correctness in English. It indicates that the subsequent action happens immediately following the initial action, emphasizing a direct temporal relationship.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "upon doing something" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that one action immediately follows another. While considered correct and usable, as noted by Ludwig AI, it carries a formal tone and is best suited for academic, scientific, or formal writing. Common alternatives include "after doing something" or "immediately after doing something", which may be more appropriate in informal contexts. While authoritative sources use the phrase, understanding its register and communicative purpose will ensure its appropriate and effective use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after doing something

Indicates a sequence of actions with a focus on the completion of the first action before the second begins.

immediately after doing something

Emphasizes the very short time between the two actions.

on doing something

Similar to "upon", but slightly less formal and archaic.

following the action of doing something

More formal and emphasizes the sequential nature of the events.

as soon as something is done

Highlights the promptness of the subsequent action.

the moment something is done

Stresses the instantaneous nature of the reaction to the completed action.

once something is done

Focuses on the condition being met before the second action takes place.

with the completion of something

Formal and emphasizes the finalized state of the initial action.

subsequent to doing something

A more formal way of saying after doing something, suitable for legal or official contexts.

in the wake of doing something

Implies that the subsequent event is a direct result or consequence of the initial action.

FAQs

How can I use "upon doing something" in a sentence?

Use "upon doing something" to indicate an event that immediately follows an action. For instance, "Upon receiving the news, she burst into tears" shows the immediate reaction to the news.

What are some alternatives to "upon doing something"?

You can use alternatives like "after doing something", "immediately after doing something", or "on doing something" depending on the level of formality and emphasis you want to convey.

Is "upon doing something" considered formal?

Yes, "upon doing something" is generally considered more formal than alternatives like "after doing something". It's often used in legal, academic, or otherwise formal writing.

What's the difference between "upon doing something" and "after doing something"?

While both indicate a sequence of events, "upon doing something" implies a more immediate or direct consequence than "after doing something". "Upon finishing the race" suggests a very short delay, whereas "after finishing the race" allows for a longer interval.