upon leaving

USAGE SUMMARY

"upon leaving" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that happens when you are departing from a certain place. For example: "Upon leaving the restaurant, I noticed someone had left an umbrella behind."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Upon leaving CBS he took the freelance production world by storm.

The New York Times

Upon leaving, he became a Navy contractor.

The New York Times

Her first words upon leaving the theater?

The New York Times

Upon leaving, we told the manager of our dissatisfaction.

The New York Times

Upon leaving concert visited Greenwich Village and tells about it.

The New Yorker

Upon leaving the "Y", he was in fund raising.

The New York Times

Each of them signed the show's coolie hat upon leaving.

The New York Times

The aircraft's wings unfold upon leaving the tube.

The Economist

Upon leaving the analyzer, the beam enters the detector.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Upon leaving school, Woolrich had a brief marriage to Gloria (Violet Virginia) Blackton.

Columbia University

Upon leaving the store, she was accosted by a robber who stole the cash.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "upon leaving", ensure the subsequent clause clearly relates to the action of leaving. For example, "Upon leaving the building, he noticed the rain had stopped."

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by placing the subject immediately after "upon leaving". Incorrect: "Upon leaving, the station was crowded." Correct: "Upon leaving the train, I found the station was crowded."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon leaving" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the timing of an action in relation to a departure. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "upon leaving" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase that indicates the timing of an event in relation to a departure. As Ludwig confirms, its versatility makes it suitable for various contexts, ranging from news reports to academic papers. While considered more formal than simpler alternatives like "after leaving", it maintains a neutral tone and can effectively convey a sense of immediacy. When using "upon leaving", ensure the subsequent clause clearly relates to the act of departing to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after departing

Replaces "upon" with "after", changing the emphasis slightly to a sequence of events.

on exiting

A more concise alternative, focusing on the action of exiting.

after my leaving

Highlights the speaker's act of leaving as the point of reference.

following my exit

Emphasizes the speaker's departure and what happens after.

as I left

Simplifies the phrasing, using a past tense construction for clarity.

having left

Emphasizes the completed action of leaving before another event occurs.

subsequent to departure

Uses more formal vocabulary to convey the same meaning, suitable for professional or academic contexts.

once I had left

Specifies a point in time after the act of leaving is complete.

post-departure

Uses a prefix to indicate what happens after the departure event.

when one leaves

Generalizes the departure to anyone who leaves, offering a broader perspective.

FAQs

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

"Upon leaving" introduces an action that occurs immediately after someone departs from a place or situation. For example: "Upon leaving the office, she felt a sense of relief."

What can I say instead of "upon leaving"?

You can use alternatives like "after departing", "following departure", or "on exiting" depending on the context.

Is "upon leaving" formal or informal?

"Upon leaving" is generally considered more formal than alternatives like "after leaving" or "when I left", but it's appropriate for most written contexts.

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

"Upon leaving" suggests a more immediate sequence of events than "after leaving". "Upon leaving" implies that something happened right away, whereas "after leaving" allows for a slight delay.