upon first look

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "upon first look" is correct and usable in written English.
It is frequently used to describe the initial impression one gets when looking at something for the first time. For example, "Upon first look, I could tell the restaurant was going to be a hit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Upon first look, it seems to be a pencil sketch.

The New York Times

Upon first look the current crop of data would seemingly be devastating for the president.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hans gave us a reference to Sidon sequences which have been studied and upon first look seemed to be exactly what we were working on but upon investigation they turned out to allow the sum of an element with itself as mentioned by Gary.

The New York Times

The BlackBerry PlayBook is impressive upon first look.

TechCrunch

Upon first look, "Phases of the Heart," by mathematician John Malik, resembles a starry sky.

Duke University

One thing is very clear upon first look at the Galaxy Home.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Upon second look, there were significant differences in the adhesion incidence between the groups (P < 0.01).

BioMed Research International

And now here was a big best-selling book, which upon my first look seemed to have a lot of commercial sleazy elements".

The New Yorker

A first look at the series will air during the season finale of "Once Upon A Time" this Sunday.

Los Angeles Times

They become abstractions from afar, with doors and staircases visible upon a second look.

Vice

Before I explain why you didn't see the Loch Ness monster the first time you looked at the painting, a monster that is obvious upon a second look, try this other experiment.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upon first look" to introduce an initial impression or assessment, often followed by a contrasting observation or deeper analysis. It's effective for setting up a comparison or revealing hidden aspects.

Common error

Avoid using "upon first look" interchangeably with phrases like "at first glance" or "initially" if you want to specifically emphasize a visual assessment that may differ from later, more informed perspectives. Each phrase carries subtle nuances that can affect the clarity and impact of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon first look" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a clause, introducing an initial observation or impression. As Ludwig AI clarifies, this phrase indicates the initial perception of something.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Academia

21%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "upon first look" is a prepositional phrase used to introduce an initial observation or impression, often implying a subsequent contrast or deeper analysis. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used to set the stage for revealing hidden aspects or making comparisons. It's found most frequently in news and media sources, with a neutral register that makes it suitable for considered observations. While phrases like "at first glance" are similar, "upon first look" carries a slightly more formal tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at first glance

Replaces "upon" with "at" and "look" with "glance", offering a more common alternative to express an initial impression.

at first sight

Substitutes "look" with "sight", emphasizing visual perception.

initially

A single-word adverb capturing the idea of a first impression.

on initial inspection

More formal, emphasizing a careful examination.

upon initial observation

Similar to "on initial inspection" but focuses on the act of observing.

from the outset

Implies something was evident from the very beginning.

at the beginning

More general, referring to the start of something.

to begin with

Indicates an initial point in a discussion or process.

in the beginning

Similar to "at the beginning" but slightly more emphatic.

at the starting point

Emphasizes the very first stage or phase.

FAQs

What does "upon first look" mean?

The phrase "upon first look" means based on an initial observation or assessment, often implying that a deeper analysis might reveal something different. It describes an initial impression.

Is "upon first look" formal or informal?

The phrase "upon first look" is generally considered to be more formal than alternatives like "at first glance", but it is still appropriate for many contexts. Its formality lends a sense of considered observation.

How can I use "upon first look" in a sentence?

You can use "upon first look" to introduce an initial impression. For example, "Upon first look, the data seemed promising, but further analysis revealed significant flaws."

What are some alternatives to "upon first look"?

Alternatives to "upon first look" include "at first glance", "initially", or "on initial inspection", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.