upon his will

USAGE SUMMARY

"upon his will" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to someone’s decision or course of action, as in the following example: "He chose to take the day off work, as it was upon his will."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I Answer: Between an Executive Power in being, with such a Prerogative, and a Legislative that depends upon his will for their convening, there can be no Judge on Earth: As there can be none, between the Legislative, and the People, should either the Executive, or the Legislative, when they have got the Power in their hands, design, or go about to enslave, or destroy them.

University of Chicago

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Patient bought a policy that upon his death will pay his partner a half-million rand, the equivalent of $62,500.

The New York Times

Strawberry, who has told prison officials that he does not want to speak with reporters upon his release, will depart with no legal restrictions.

The New York Times - Sports

HIS pledge to the Arizona law school -- half of which is to be paid over 20 years and the remainder upon his death -- will transform his alma mater, said Dean Seligman, whose current annual budget is just $7 million.

The New York Times

"Sir, a man will no more carry the artifice of the bar into the common intercourse of society, than a man who is paid for tumbling upon his hands will continue to tumble on his hands when he should walk on his feet").

The New Yorker

Take for example a situation where a terminally-ill father has decided that his gift to his children upon his passing will be the total of his IRA, converted to Roth and with the taxes paid from his other sources, so that the Roth account will be available tax-free to the children.

Forbes

One prays that Jesus, upon his resurrection, will force them to appear on the reality TV show Intervention and interrogate them as to why they squandered their time, energy and resources watching TV and recklessly promoting anti-Muslim and anti-gay bigotry instead of helping the poor or attempting to love and understand their neighbours.

Huffington Post

Louis was as strong in his French sympathies as his father, Louis I of Nevers, and relied upon French help in enforcing his will upon his refractory subjects, who resented his arbitrary methods of government and the heavy taxation imposed upon them by his extravagance and love of display.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The common-law rule, succinctly stated in R. v. Woodward, (1944) K.B. 118, 119, (1944) 1 All E.R. 159 , 160 has evidently always been that 'no person charged with a criminal offence can have counsel forced upon him against his will.' 29 See 3 Halsbury's Laws of England 1141, pp. 624—625 (4th ed. 1973); R. v. Maybury, 11 L.T.R.(n.s.) 566 (Q.B.1865).

Cornell University

When Douglas's papers enter the holdings at New York University's Fales Library, as they will upon his death, it will offer a virtually unparalleled documentary record of modern hardcore history.

Vice

"Ben was the guy we had to have, who could impose his will upon the game".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "upon his will", ensure the context clearly indicates whose will is being referred to. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the sentence's clarity.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "upon his will" can sound archaic in contemporary writing. Consider using more direct alternatives like "according to his wishes" or "at his discretion" for a modern tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon his will" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or clause. It indicates a condition or dependence on someone's decision or desire. As supported by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "upon his will" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase that indicates dependence on someone's decision or desire. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. However, its usage is relatively rare and leans towards formal contexts. More contemporary and direct alternatives such as "according to his wishes" or "at his discretion" may be preferred in modern writing to maintain a natural tone. It appears most frequently in news and academic sources, suggesting a certain level of formality or analytical discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

according to his wishes

Replaces "will" with "wishes" for a more direct reference to desires.

at his discretion

Focuses on the freedom of choice and decision-making power.

by his choice

Emphasizes the act of selecting or choosing.

subject to his decision

Highlights the conditional aspect of being governed by someone's choice.

as he sees fit

Indicates a subjective evaluation influencing the action.

as he desires

Directly refers to the person's wants and longings.

by his command

Suggests a more forceful and authoritative direction.

under his authority

Highlights the power and control exerted.

at his pleasure

Implies an element of enjoyment or satisfaction for the person making the decision.

governed by his volition

Emphasizes the act of making a conscious decision or choice.

FAQs

What does "upon his will" mean?

The phrase "upon his will" means according to his desire, decision, or command. It suggests that something is contingent on or governed by someone's choice.

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

You can use "upon his will" to indicate that an action or outcome depends on someone's decision. For example, "The project's success is dependent upon his will to invest further resources."

What are some alternatives to "upon his will"?

Alternatives include phrases like "according to his wishes", "at his discretion", or "by his choice". Each of these options, like "according to his wishes", offers a slightly different nuance while maintaining the core meaning.

Is "upon his will" formal or informal?

The phrase "upon his will" leans towards the formal side. In many modern contexts, it might be more appropriate to use a simpler alternative, such as "at his discretion", to maintain a natural tone.