upon noticing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'upon noticing' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to express the idea that something happened after one noticed or became aware of something else. Example: Upon noticing the deer in the meadow, I immediately stopped and watched the animals for a few moments.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

Upon noticing the artwork, the train was quickly taken out of service for the 'traffiti' to be removed.

Independent

I overheard one passer-by emit an involuntary "Oh, my gosh," upon noticing the droptop in a parking lot.

The New York Times

He resumed his routine the following night, turning from his Sing Tao Daily upon noticing a possibly trim-worthy face.

The New York Times

Maybe the person holding the book, upon noticing your prying eyes, shifts away; occasionally, the opposite occurs.

The New York Times

The worry has largely passed, as have those days when people would get out of his cab upon noticing his Muslim name on the license.

The New York Times

I certainly couldn't hold back my own enthusiasm upon noticing the abundance of clean, easily accessible, non-frightening subway station toilets on my first visit there.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Care is a deep, pervasive cultural norm that is imposed upon what is noticed and noticeable to others.

Landscape and Urban Planning

If consent is not granted by the new date, then either party can cancel the contract upon notice to the other party.

The New York Times

To the extent that a copyright holder could not be found or an inadvertent permissions or copyright error was made, the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy stands ready to remove content upon notice and request by a copyright holder.

SEP

It also claims none of this data was used in work on the 2016 U.S. presidential election when it was hired by the Trump campaign, and that upon notice from Facebook immediately deleted all raw data and began removing derivative data.

TechCrunch

According to McSherry, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act states that if a service provider quickly takes down proprietary content upon notice of a violation from a copyright holder, the service provider is not liable for a copyright violation.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upon noticing" to clearly indicate a sequence of events where awareness of something immediately precedes another action. For example, "Upon noticing the error, he corrected it immediately" provides a clear causal link.

Common error

Avoid overusing "upon noticing" in informal contexts. Simpler alternatives like "when I noticed" or "after noticing" often sound more natural in everyday conversation. The formal tone can sometimes be inappropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon noticing" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing an adverbial clause of time. It modifies the main clause by indicating when the action in the main clause occurred, specifically after the act of noticing. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "upon noticing" is a grammatically sound and relatively common phrase used to indicate that an action or event immediately follows the realization or observation of something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is correct and serves to establish a clear sequence of events. While versatile, it leans towards a slightly more formal tone than its alternatives, making it suitable for news, scientific writing, and other contexts where a sense of precision and immediacy is desired. Remember, simpler alternatives like "when noticing" or "after noticing" can often be more appropriate in casual settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on observing

Replaces "noticing" with a more formal synonym, "observing".

after detecting

Emphasizes the act of discovering something, rather than simply noticing it.

when realizing

Shifts the focus to the moment of understanding or becoming aware.

as soon as one sees

Uses a more verbose and direct construction, specifying "seeing" as the trigger.

following the recognition of

Introduces a more formal and academic tone.

once aware of

Highlights the state of being conscious or informed about something.

on becoming aware of

Similar to 'once aware of' but with a slightly different phrasing.

having observed

Uses a participial phrase to convey the action of observing prior to a subsequent event.

after becoming conscious of

Highlights that one becomes cognizant of something.

with the discovery of

Emphasizes the finding or uncovering of something.

FAQs

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

Use "upon noticing" to show a direct consequence of observing something. For example: "Upon noticing the smoke, she called the fire department."

What are some alternatives to "upon noticing"?

You can use alternatives like "on observing", "after detecting", or "when realizing" depending on the context.

Is "upon noticing" formal or informal?

"Upon noticing" tends to be more formal. In casual conversation, phrases like "when I saw" or "after I noticed" might be more appropriate.

Is it always necessary to use "upon" with "noticing"?

No, "upon" adds a degree of formality. "After noticing" or "when noticing" are perfectly acceptable and often more common, especially in informal writing.