upon his death

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "upon his death" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing the death or demise of someone or something. For example, "Upon his death, the king's legacy was remembered fondly by his subjects."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Upon his death, U.S. Pres.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Upon his death, the case went cold.

The Guardian - Books

Joseph gallery upon his death in 1966.

The New York Times

Upon his death, his father took on this political work.

Stanford University

Akihito succeeded Hirohito upon his death early last year.

The New York Times

Milner's viscountcy became extinct upon his death without an heir.

Britannica

He freed only a handful of them upon his death.

The New York Times

The marquessate thus became extinct upon his death.

Britannica

Upon his death, he was succeeded by his son Monivong.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Upon his death, his spouse will receive $58,000 annually until she dies.

The Washington Post

It doesn't work until the father lies upon his death bed.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upon his death" to clearly indicate that an event or action immediately follows the death of the person being discussed. Ensure the context makes it clear whose death is being referred to, especially if multiple individuals are mentioned.

Common error

Avoid implying that something happened because of the death when it merely happened after the death. "Upon his death, his son became king" describes succession, not necessarily causation. To show causation, use phrases like "because of his death".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon his death" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or noun, indicating the timing of an event in relation to someone's death. Ludwig examples show its usage in contexts ranging from succession to inheritance, as mentioned by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Encyclopedias

32%

Academia

22%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "upon his death" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase to denote events occurring immediately after someone's passing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is versatile across various contexts, including news, encyclopedias, and academic writings. When using "upon his death", ensure you're clearly indicating succession or immediate consequence, not necessarily causation. While alternatives exist, "upon his death" offers a clear and professional way to convey the timing of events. Remember to avoid misinterpreting the relationship between the death and the subsequent event, focusing on succession rather than direct causation, aligning with Ludwig's guidance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after his passing

Emphasizes a more gentle or respectful tone when referring to death, using "passing" as a euphemism.

following his demise

Demise implies a formal or impactful end, suitable for significant figures or events.

subsequent to his death

Emphasizes the chronological sequence, highlighting what happened afterwards.

in the wake of his death

Highlights the consequences and impact resulting from the death.

postmortem

A more technical term, often used in medical or legal contexts referring to events after death.

at the time of his death

Focuses specifically on the moment of death as a reference point.

when he died

A more direct and simple way of expressing the same concept.

with his death

A slightly less common construction, but still grammatically sound and understandable.

on his death

A more concise way to refer to the moment of death.

after he had died

Uses a past perfect construction to emphasize the completion of the act of dying before subsequent events.

FAQs

How can I use "upon his death" in a sentence?

Use "upon his death" to indicate an event or action that occurred immediately after someone died. For example, "Upon his death, the throne passed to his eldest son".

What can I say instead of "upon his death"?

You can use alternatives like "after his passing", "following his demise", or "subsequent to his death" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "on his death" instead of "upon his death"?

While "on his death" is grammatically correct, "upon his death" is more common and emphasizes the immediacy of the event following the death. "On his death" may sound slightly more concise but could lack the same sense of immediate consequence.

What's the difference between "upon his death" and "because of his death"?

"Upon his death" indicates a chronological sequence, meaning something happened after someone died. "Because of his death" indicates a causal relationship, meaning the death was the direct cause of something else. For instance, "Upon his death, his will was read" (sequence) versus "Because of his death, the project was canceled" (causation).