upon observing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "upon observing" is correct and commonly used in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something happened or was noticed as a result of observing something else. Example: Upon observing the dark clouds gathering in the sky, we decided to cancel our outdoor picnic. This sentence means that the decision to cancel the picnic was made after noticing the dark clouds. "Upon observing" emphasizes the cause-effect relationship between the observation and the action taken.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

Upon observing Marie's changing physicality, he attempts to medicate her emergent animalism with drugs that will render her as comatose as her mother.

The Guardian - Film

"C'est bien fait," he remarked objectively to one student upon observing her meticulously cut tomatoes and a mound of microscopically chopped herbs.

The New Yorker

Upon observing the sheen, ConocoPhillips took prompt action, promptly reporting the incident to Chinese authorities and activating response procedures," the statement said.

The New York Times

Upon observing the biological responses of bacteria to changes in environment, he concluded that more or less permanent changes in a cell's resistance to a drug could be induced.

Encyclopedia Britannica

We do call upon observing all the rules, since otherwise chaos may be provoked, because a large number of internationally nonrecognized countries, in Europe and worldwide as well, would request an admission to UEFA and FIFA".

The New York Times - Sports

"That's a perfect spot," said Ahmad Long, a juvenile counselor from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, who, upon observing the crime, recalled his own youthful indiscretions in which he would "ride the train for free".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

Second, we relied upon observed data rather than specifying the frequency and nature of clinical observations.

Critical Care

For this study, prediction of turbidity during streamflow events is based upon observed data (e.g., measured streamflow, precipitation and air temperature).

Journal of Hydrology

Furthermore, in the full population we additionally adjusted for area-level smoking-related mortality estimated based upon observed lung cancer rates (Janssen and Spriensma 2012).

Environmental Health Perspectives

What perceptions of students do teachers draw upon while observing students working independently to make conjectures?

International Journal of STEM Education

"There are many urges apparently arising from our biological nature that we nonetheless should choose not to act upon," she observes.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upon observing" to create a formal tone and emphasize the cause-and-effect relationship between an observation and a subsequent action or conclusion.

Common error

Avoid using "upon observing" in casual conversations or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "after noticing" or "seeing that" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon observing" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces an adverbial clause of time or condition. It modifies the main clause by specifying when or under what circumstances the action in the main clause occurs. Ludwig examples show its use across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

34%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "upon observing" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase, as validated by Ludwig AI, that introduces an adverbial clause indicating the time or condition under which an action occurs. It is most commonly found in science and news media contexts, lending a formal and precise tone to writing. While versatile, it should be used judiciously to avoid overuse in informal settings. Alternatives such as "after noticing" or "when observing" may be more appropriate in casual contexts. By following best practices and avoiding common errors, writers can effectively leverage "upon observing" to enhance the clarity and impact of their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on observing

This is a more concise variation with similar formality and meaning.

after noticing

This alternative is less formal and more direct in indicating a temporal sequence.

when observing

This alternative uses a conjunction to introduce a clause describing the act of observing.

having observed

This uses a perfect participle, implying a completed act of observation before a subsequent action.

after taking note of

This phrase highlights the act of paying attention to something observed.

seeing that

This alternative emphasizes the recognition of a fact or situation.

ascertaining that

This is more formal and emphasizes the effort taken to confirm the observation.

once it was noticed

This alternative uses a passive construction to shift the focus away from the observer.

from the observation of

This turns the phrase into a noun phrase, suitable for different grammatical contexts.

in light of the observation

This emphasizes the importance of the observation as a basis for a decision or conclusion.

FAQs

How to use "upon observing" in a sentence?

Use "upon observing" to indicate that an action or realization occurred directly after noticing something. For example: "Upon observing the error, he immediately corrected it."

What can I say instead of "upon observing"?

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

Which is correct, "upon observing" or "after observing"?

Both "upon observing" and "after observing" are grammatically correct. "Upon observing" tends to be more formal, while "after observing" is generally more common and less formal.

What's the difference between "upon observing" and "observing"?

"Observing" is a simple verb form. "Upon observing" adds a sense of immediacy and consequence, emphasizing that something happened directly as a result of the observation. For example, "Observing the data, he formed a hypothesis" vs. "Upon observing the data, he immediately formed a hypothesis".