upon encountering

USAGE SUMMARY

"upon encountering" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate that something happened as soon as someone or something encountered something else. Example: Upon encountering the enemy flag in the distance, the soldiers readied their weapons.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Upon encountering a piece of information, in any form, ask, "Who is telling me this?

The New Yorker

They gave each other knowing nods in the way transcendent athletes do upon encountering one another.

The Guardian - Sport

Each is assigned two potential lines to deliver upon encountering a stranger in a certain scenario.

The New Yorker

The coyote also competes with the red fox, which it will kill upon encountering.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Upon encountering other paddlers, Mr. Paquin said, his suggestions to don a life jacket are sometimes ignored.

The New York Times

I remember my shock, in the late nineteen-seventies, upon encountering Struth's shots of familiar SoHo streets.

The New Yorker

Upon encountering a foreign substance (or antigen), the B lymphocyte differentiates into a plasma cell, which secretes immunoglobulin (antibodies).

Encyclopedia Britannica

The persistent protagonist of "The Census Taker" finds his life's validity tested upon encountering a woman who refuses to cough up any information.

The New York Times - Books

On April 25 , 1936 he writes about his amusement, as a hay-fever sufferer, upon encountering a fellow victim on the sidewalk.

The New Yorker

Upon encountering a discarded sock puppet resembling the advertising mascot of the defunct Pets.com, the chimp sheds a tear as the closing line reminds viewers: "Invest wisely".

The New York Times

When I got to the end, I had the experience Irving Howe described upon encountering the story for the first time: "I felt my blood rise".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upon encountering" to emphasize the immediate consequence or reaction to a specific situation or stimulus. It adds a touch of formality and precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "upon encountering" in very casual or informal writing, as it can sound overly formal. Simpler alternatives like "when" or "after" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon encountering" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a circumstance or condition. It sets the stage for an event that immediately follows the act of encountering something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a grammatically sound and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

37%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Huffington Post

5%

Science Magazine

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "upon encountering" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to denote that something happens immediately after encountering something else, as confirmed by Ludwig. Its function is to establish a cause-and-effect relationship, often found in formal writing contexts. It's prevalent in scientific and news media, as seen in the provided examples. While effective in formal settings, remember that simpler alternatives like "when" or "after" are suitable for more casual contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on encountering

This alternative is a more concise way to express the same idea, replacing 'upon' with 'on'.

when encountering

This alternative uses a simpler conjunction to indicate the timing of the encounter.

after encountering

This alternative specifies that the action happens after the encounter.

in the event of encountering

This alternative presents the encountering as a potential event.

should you encounter

This alternative is a more formal and conditional way of expressing the idea.

if you encounter

This alternative uses a more common conditional conjunction.

when faced with

This alternative focuses on the act of being confronted with something.

on discovery of

This alternative emphasizes the moment of finding or learning something.

after discovery of

This alternative specifies that the action happens after the moment of finding or learning something.

as soon as one encounters

This alternative emphasizes the immediacy of the action following the encounter.

FAQs

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

You can use "upon encountering" to describe something that happens immediately after someone or something comes across something else. For example, "Upon encountering the obstacle, the vehicle stopped abruptly."

What phrases are similar to "upon encountering"?

Similar phrases include "on encountering", "when encountering", or "after encountering". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "upon encountering" formal or informal?

"Upon encountering" leans towards the formal side. In more casual contexts, using "when finding" or "after finding" might be more appropriate.

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

"Upon encountering" suggests a more immediate consequence than "after encountering". "Upon" implies that the second event happened almost at the same time as the encountering. With "after", there is less of an immediate association.