upon his return

USAGE SUMMARY

"upon his return" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone coming back or arriving back from a place. For example: "A welcomed celebration was held upon his return from the war".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Upon his return, he found that one roommate had "replaced himself with someone I didn't know".

The New York Times

Upon his return, money gone.

The New Yorker

"Omigosh," said Mr. Salazar, upon his return.

The New York Times

Upon his return years later there is another almost-moment.

The New York Times

Upon his return home Pinckney was made a major general.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Upon his return, Eusebius told his cousin Joost about Broceliande.

The New Yorker

Upon his return, Clytemnestra and Aegisthus murdered Agamemnon.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Upon his return, the phone rings & Albert answers it.

The New Yorker

Upon his return, Rodman drags me into the kitchen.

The New York Times - Magazine

Upon his return, he unknowingly infected his wife.

The Guardian

Upon his return home, Mr. Koizumi was on the defensive.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upon his return" to add a touch of formality and create a sense of immediate consequence to the return, especially in narrative or descriptive writing.

Common error

Avoid using "upon his return" in very informal or casual contexts, where simpler alternatives like "when he got back" or "after he returned" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon his return" functions as a prepositional phrase acting as an adverbial modifier. It modifies a verb or clause to indicate the timing of an action immediately following someone's arrival. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is correct and generally applicable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Wiki

32%

Encyclopedias

22%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "upon his return" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to indicate an event that happens shortly after someone's arrival. As Ludwig AI points out, this construction is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts. Its frequent usage in news, encyclopedias and Wikipedia confirms its broad applicability. When writing, use "upon his return" to establish a clear temporal relationship, but avoid using it in overly casual situations. Consider alternatives like "after his return" or "when he returned" for less formal contexts. The high frequency of the phrase suggests that it is well recognized and understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after his return

Uses a different preposition to convey a similar meaning.

when he returned

Changes the prepositional phrase to a subordinate clause with a conjunction.

on his homecoming

Employs a more evocative word, 'homecoming', for 'return'.

following his arrival back

Replaces 'return' with 'arrival back', adding emphasis.

subsequent to his comeback

Uses 'comeback' for 'return', implying a return after absence.

at the time of his return

Adds a temporal aspect by specifying 'at the time'.

after he got back

Uses a more casual and informal phrasing.

once he was back

Uses a simple conjunction to indicate the return.

as soon as he came back

Expresses immediacy with 'as soon as'.

his return marked

Shifts the focus to the return itself as a significant event.

FAQs

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

"Upon his return" indicates an event that occurs immediately after someone's arrival. For example, "Upon his return, he found everything had changed."

What are some alternatives to using "upon his return"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "after his return", "when he returned", or "on his homecoming".

Is "upon his return" formal or informal?

"Upon his return" is considered more formal than phrases like "when he got back". It's suitable for professional writing, news reports, and academic papers.

What's the difference between "upon his return" and "after his return"?

"Upon his return" implies a more immediate sequence of events compared to "after his return", which allows for a slightly longer period of time to pass before the subsequent event occurs.