upon observing the

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "upon observing the" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to express that a certain action or reaction was the result of the speaker/writer noticing something. For example, "Upon observing the person's strange behavior, I decided to call the police."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

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

"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

"My entrance consisted of a series of abandoned high kicks, slightly higher with the right leg than with the left, typifying the carefree joie de vivre of the average mushroom, until upon observing the toadstool (Joan Carrol in pink) my mood changed from gaiety to tenderness, and there ensued a refined pas de deux and exit to tepid applause".

The New York Times - Style

Given the rate of output growth and the creation of new vacancies, unemployment should have risen less through the summer and declined more thereafter.A natural assumption to make upon observing the above is that structural factors are standing in the way of higher employment, as the authors of the Brookings paper acknowledge.

The Economist

This variation noted in oxygen surface groups is further confirmed upon observing the XPS results of O 1 s.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

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

This fact was even more significant upon observing that being the spouse correlates negatively both in global QoL and in the three dimensions other than social support.

BMC Family Practice

His renowned inventions of flying machines were truly amazing and all based upon thousands of hours of observing the birds on the hills outside Florence.

Huffington Post

Upon observing edema forming at the inoculation site, a cotton swab was gently pressed on the inoculation site while removing the needle.

BioMed Research International

At the moment of impact upon landing, we observe the upper body mass moves downward.

ROBOMECH Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upon observing the" to introduce a formal observation that leads to a specific action or conclusion. It's effective in reports, analyses, and descriptive narratives.

Common error

Avoid using "on" instead of "upon" in formal writing. While "on observing the" is sometimes acceptable, "upon observing the" maintains a more professional and polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon observing the" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a gerund phrase. It modifies a clause by providing a temporal context, indicating when the action in the main clause occurred. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

38%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "upon observing the" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to denote a cause-and-effect relationship, particularly in formal writing. According to Ludwig AI, its proper usage reflects a formal context where an observation leads to a subsequent action. It is prevalent in scientific and news sources. Although variations like "after observing the" exist, "upon observing the" maintains a more immediate and often more formal tone. When writing, remember that while it's a versatile phrase, it suits contexts where a deliberate and documented observation is crucial.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after noticing the

Replaces "upon" with "after", slightly less formal.

on observing the

Replaces "upon" with "on", subtly less formal.

when noticing the

Uses "when" to indicate a time-based observation.

once aware of the

Emphasizes awareness as the trigger for action.

having witnessed the

More emphatic, implying a direct viewing of an event.

seeing that

A more concise and informal alternative.

from the observation of

More formal and scientific phrasing.

following the sighting of

Suggests a visual confirmation or discovery.

as a result of seeing

Highlights the cause-and-effect relationship.

due to the fact that

Highlights the cause-and-effect relationship and adds formality.

FAQs

How can I use "upon observing the" in a sentence?

Use "upon observing the" to indicate that something happened as a direct result of noticing something. For example, "Upon observing the cracks in the bridge, engineers immediately halted traffic".

What are some alternatives to "upon observing the"?

Alternatives include "after noticing the", "on observing the", or "when noticing the", depending on the level of formality and specific context.

Is "upon observing the" formal or informal?

"Upon observing the" is generally considered formal. More informal alternatives include phrases like "seeing that".

What is the difference between "upon observing the" and "after observing the"?

While similar, "upon observing the" often implies a more immediate and direct consequence than "after observing the". "Upon" suggests the action followed almost immediately after the observation.