upon finishing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "upon finishing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something happens after the completion of an action. For example: "Upon finishing her studies, she decided to travel around the world".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Upon finishing, she closed the book with great satisfaction.

The New York Times - Health

"How did you know that?" he asked upon finishing.

The New York Times - Sports

Upon finishing, the scientist asked for questions, and Friedman went first.

The New Yorker

Upon finishing the salad, I wouldn't be anywhere close to satisfied.

The New York Times - Magazine

Their candidacies also rely upon finishing strong in the early states.

The New York Times

My first thought upon finishing the report was: I need to meet this guy.

The New York Times

Upon finishing the song, she shouted out: "I love you, Kendrick!

Independent

Upon finishing her education, she moved to Washington, D.C., to work in national politics.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Upon finishing motor control, we moved on to testing the sensor.

Cornell University

Upon finishing her Ph.D., she was offered a job in every first-rank American economics department except Stanford's.

The New Yorker

I have heard more than one person, upon finishing this book, declare, "That's why I'm never leaving the city".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upon finishing" to clearly indicate that one action directly follows the completion of another. This can help create a smooth and logical flow in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "upon finishing" when the subsequent action is not directly and immediately related to the completion of the first. Using "after" or "following" might be more appropriate if there's a delay or intervening event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon finishing" functions as a prepositional phrase, specifically indicating a temporal relationship. It sets the timing of an action or event immediately following the completion of another. As Ludwig AI explains, it signifies that something occurs after something else has been completed. The numerous examples on Ludwig illustrate this function in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Academia

21%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "upon finishing" is a correct and usable phrase in English, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves as a prepositional phrase to indicate that an action happens immediately after the completion of another, primarily functioning to establish a clear sequence of events. The phrase is most frequently found in news, academic, and scientific writing, lending itself well to neutral and formal contexts. While effective for clarity, avoid using it when the subsequent event isn't directly linked to the finishing action; alternatives like "after completing" or "once finished" might then be more suitable. With its prevalent usage across authoritative sources like The New York Times and academic institutions, "upon finishing" remains a valuable tool for expressing temporal relationships in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after completing

More explicit about the act of completion.

once finished

Simpler and more direct, less formal.

on completion of

More formal and emphasizes the completion itself.

following the completion of

Highly formal and lengthy.

subsequent to finishing

Emphasizes the sequence of events.

after the conclusion of

Focuses on the ending or conclusion.

with the finishing of

Slightly less common and more emphatic.

at the end of

General and can apply to various types of endings, not specifically tasks.

as soon as completed

Highlights the immediacy of the subsequent action.

having finished

Uses a participial phrase to indicate completion.

FAQs

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

Use "upon finishing" to show that something happens directly after completing a task. For example, "Upon finishing the exam, I felt relieved."

What phrases are similar to "upon finishing"?

Alternatives include "after completing", "once finished", or "on completion of", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is it more formal to say "upon finishing" or "after finishing"?

"Upon finishing" is generally considered more formal than "after finishing". The choice depends on the context and the intended audience.

Can I use "upon finishing" to describe something that happens much later?

It's best to reserve "upon finishing" for events that occur immediately or very shortly after the completion of an action. For events that happen later, use alternatives like "some time after" or "following the completion of".