upon knowing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "upon knowing" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is usually used when referring to receiving or becoming aware of some information. For example, "Upon knowing their plans, I knew I had to act quickly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

The good kind of crazy, meanwhile, is the impulse that leads him to insist upon strapping himself to the outside of a giant airplane, because he knows that audiences will be just that more thrilled upon knowing that it is really him out there being buffeted in the breeze.

The New Yorker

I doubt he would be too happy upon knowing they're boring students who read and analyse his texts to tears.

The Guardian

Abandonment Tracker's remarketing depends upon knowing the e-mail address of the wayward prospect; knowing the phone number will make follow-up phone calls possible, too.

The New York Times

This range was selected based upon knowing the structure of the associations in the example.

Security Informatics

In injury research this is particularly important because the analysis and policy implications are often dependent upon knowing exactly where an injury occurred.

Injury Epidemiology

The confidence with which data from safety studies can be extrapolated to humans depends, among other factors, upon knowing whether humans are systemically exposed to the same chemical entities (i.e. a parent compound and its metabolites) as the laboratory animals used to study toxicity.

Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Decades later, she reflected upon Michael Dukakis knowing about George Bush Sr.'s two mistresses in Washington.

Huffington Post

(Again: What if an American carpenter's salvation depended upon his knowing all about the Hindu God Ganesh?).

Huffington Post

It means that Clinton and Bush are now agreed upon the proposition that, knowing what we know now, invading Iraq was an error.

The New Yorker

As Kelly and her colleagues remind us, a woman's risk is far more dependent upon her ability to make and act upon decisions than knowing about HIV and its transmission [ 56].

BMC Public Health

The smaller roles are cast from strength – Ailish Tynan is glorious as the Storch's knowing, put-upon maid, Anna – and there's conducting of great immediacy and sensitivity from Jac van Steen.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upon knowing" to create a formal and somewhat literary tone when describing the point at which someone gains information and acts accordingly.

Common error

Avoid using "upon knowing" in informal contexts; it can sound stilted. Opt for simpler alternatives like "after finding out" or "once I knew" for everyday conversation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon knowing" functions as a prepositional phrase acting as an adverbial modifier. It introduces a circumstance or condition that triggers a subsequent action or state, as shown by Ludwig AI and numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "upon knowing" is a grammatically sound and relatively common construction used to denote the point at which knowledge is acquired, often triggering a subsequent action or realization. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It is most frequently encountered in scientific and news-related contexts, indicating a formal register. While versatile, it is advisable to consider more informal alternatives like "after finding out" in casual settings to avoid an overly formal tone. Keep in mind that other authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian also use the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after realizing

Emphasizes the time aspect after a realization has occurred.

on becoming aware

Highlights the process of gaining awareness.

once aware of

Focuses on the state of being informed at a particular time.

having learned

Implies that knowledge has been acquired and is now possessed.

in light of the knowledge

Indicates a decision or action is taken because of newly gained knowledge.

with the understanding that

Similar to "upon knowing" but emphasizes that the understanding is considered before action.

after finding out

Casual and colloquial phrase which can replace "upon knowing" in informal contexts.

once it was known

Passive voice construction that can be used instead of "upon knowing".

when informed about

Highlights the act of being informed about the event.

subsequent to finding out

Emphasizes the temporal sequence of events following the discovery.

FAQs

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

Use "upon knowing" to indicate a moment of realization or discovery that prompts a subsequent action. For example, "Upon knowing the truth, she decided to leave".

What are some alternatives to "upon knowing"?

You can use alternatives like "after realizing", "once aware of", or "on becoming aware" depending on the context.

Is "upon knowing" formal or informal?

"Upon knowing" is considered a more formal expression. In informal contexts, phrases like "after finding out" or "once I knew" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "upon knowing" and "after knowing"?

"Upon knowing" suggests an immediate action following the realization of information, while "after knowing" simply indicates that something occurred at some point following the acquisition of knowledge. The nuance is the timing of the action that follows.