upon entering

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'upon entering' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to mean "when entering" or "as soon as one enters". For example, "Upon entering the room, everyone fell silent".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

(Grapes!)" upon entering it.

The New Yorker

Upon entering Madrid, Carrington's confusion increased.

The New Yorker

And upon entering, a doormat that says only "Since 1936".

The New York Times

"Excuse me," he yells, upon entering the barn.

The New Yorker

Upon entering the children's hospital, they'd triggered a mine.

The New Yorker

Upon entering, it feels a little like a mausoleum.

The Guardian - Business

"I'm home!" he cried upon entering the pigsty.

The New Yorker

One would be forgiven for thinking it a bar bar upon entering.

The New York Times - Travel

Those with cat allergies could develop breathing difficulties upon entering a dander-filled room.

The New York Times

They have been criticised about the fact that housemates have recognised each other upon entering.

The Guardian

We did not receive a hello upon entering or a goodbye when departing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upon entering" to create a slightly more formal or literary tone than "when entering". It's particularly effective when describing a scene or setting a specific mood.

Common error

Avoid mixing tenses inappropriately after "upon entering". Ensure the following clause logically connects in time and tense. For example, don't say "Upon entering the room, he will see…" if the context implies the action is already in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon entering" functions as a prepositional phrase acting as an adverbial modifier. It modifies a verb, often setting the scene or describing circumstances concurrent with the action of entering. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

31%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "upon entering" is a prepositional phrase used to describe events occurring at the moment of entry, functioning as an adverbial modifier. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and frequently used. Its formality is neutral to slightly formal, making it suitable for a range of written contexts, particularly news, science, and formal communications. While versatile, using "upon entering" effectively requires care to ensure logical tense consistency in the subsequent clause. Alternatives such as "when entering" or "as you enter" offer options for adjusting the tone and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

when entering

This alternative replaces "upon" with "when", indicating a time-based relationship.

on entering

This alternative uses a different preposition but maintains a similar meaning.

as you enter

This alternative uses a more direct and conversational tone.

after entering

This alternative emphasizes the sequence of events, specifically what happens after the act of entering.

immediately after entering

This alternative adds emphasis on the immediacy of the action following the entry.

once inside

This alternative simplifies the phrase to focus on being inside a location.

following entry

This formal alternative emphasizes the sequential nature of the entry.

at the point of entry

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the location of entry.

as soon as you go in

This alternative uses more informal language.

with the act of entering

This alternative is quite formal and verbose but emphasizes the action.

FAQs

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

"Upon entering" is used to describe what happens immediately after someone enters a place. For example, "Upon entering the building, she noticed the smell of old books".

What is a more formal alternative to "upon entering"?

A more formal alternative could be "following entry". For example, "Following entry to the premises, all visitors must register at the front desk".

What can I say instead of "upon entering" in a more casual context?

In a more casual context, you could use phrases like "as you enter" or "when you go in". For example, "As you enter the store, you'll see the sale items on the left".

Is there a difference between "upon entering" and "after entering"?

While similar, "upon entering" implies immediacy, whereas "after entering" allows for a slight delay. "Upon entering" suggests something happens right away, but "after entering" means something happens at some point following the entry.