upon finding

USAGE SUMMARY

"upon finding" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is an adverbial phrase used to express the timing of an action and is usually followed by a verb. Example sentence: Upon finding a giant spider in my bedroom, I quickly ran out of the room.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Having crept your way out to the balcony, you'll shudder upon finding find it Beth-less.

The New Yorker

Her anxiety continued upon finding them safe.

The New Yorker

Life depends upon finding cover.

The Guardian - Arts

Upon finding tonneau empty, policeman was incredulous.

The New Yorker

Upon finding out, I did what I needed to do".

The New York Times

But I don't think that happiness is contingent upon finding it".

The Guardian - Film

The approach is based upon finding interphase boundaries with a high density of near-coincidence sites.

Acta Materialia

Upon finding out that thunderstorms were headed for the area, Mickelson left Monday for San Diego.

The New York Times - Sports

Once again, a blockbuster trade is dependent upon finding a home for another bad contract.

The New York Times

She returned to the café shortly afterwards and pretended to be distraught upon finding the body.

Independent

Given his profession, you might think that upon finding out what had happened, he would have understood his accident.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, ensure that the sentence clearly indicates who or what is doing the finding, and what the direct consequence is.

Common error

Avoid separating "upon finding" too far from the subject it modifies. Ensure the phrase directly precedes the noun or pronoun performing the action to prevent ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "The key was found, and upon finding, the door was opened", write "Upon finding the key, the door was opened."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon finding" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying the main clause by indicating the timing or condition under which the action in the main clause occurs. Ludwig confirms this is a correct and usable construct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "upon finding" functions as an adverbial phrase to indicate the timing of a subsequent action following a discovery. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and widely used. The phrase demonstrates a neutral to formal register, being common in news articles, scientific publications, and other writings. While alternatives such as "after discovering" and "when finding" exist, "upon finding" conveys a sense of immediacy. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by placing it close to the subject performing the action to avoid misplaced modifier errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on discovering

Similar to "after discovering" but more concise and emphasizes the moment of discovery.

having found

Indicates a completed action of finding something before a subsequent action.

after discovering

Focuses on the action of discovering, placing less emphasis on the immediate consequence.

when discovering

Introduces a time-based condition tied to the act of discovering.

with the discovery of

Similar to 'after the discovery of', but sounds more concise.

after the discovery of

Formal and emphasizes the event of discovery rather than the act of finding.

once it was found that

Emphasizes the revelation or establishment of a fact after something is found.

subsequent to finding

Formal and highlights the sequence of events after finding something.

as a result of finding

Highlights the consequence or outcome of the act of finding.

following the finding of

Formal and emphasizes the chronological order after a finding.

FAQs

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

Use "upon finding" to indicate an action that occurs immediately after a discovery. For example, "Upon finding the error, she corrected it immediately".

What are some alternatives to "upon finding"?

Alternatives include "after discovering", "on discovering", or "when discovering", depending on the context.

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

"Upon finding" suggests a more immediate consequence than "after finding". "Upon" implies that the action happened almost instantly after the discovery, while "after" allows for a slight delay.

What's the level of formality of "upon finding"?

"Upon finding" is generally considered more formal than alternatives like "after finding" or "when finding", making it suitable for academic or professional writing.