upon our return

USAGE SUMMARY

"upon our return" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that will happen after a period of absence (for example, after a vacation, business trip, etc.). For example: We plan to visit all the local attractions while we are away, and upon our return, we'll hold a party to share our experiences.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

Upon our return to Kabini Lodge, we were congratulated.

The New York Times - Travel

Upon our return, we wrote to Society Expeditions.

The New York Times - Travel

Our youngest was also "confused" and mightily angry with me upon our return.

The New York Times - Travel

Upon our return, the attendant showed three fingers to indicate the amount due.

The New York Times

But upon our return, we discover there's more to recommend Opuzen and its surroundings.

The Guardian - Travel

This is the question that came up repeatedly upon our return.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

We'd pay him fifteen Euros in total – the five my friend had already given him, five more in advance, and another five upon our safe return to the ferry terminal.

Forbes

A very popular question I receive from fellow Baltimoreans upon my return to our fair city by the bay is: How does the Derby compare to Preakness?

Los Angeles Times

I vividly remember the day President Kennedy was shot.I was working for a beer distributor in Saratoga Springs,NY and upon my return to our warehouse, a fellow employee, Dick Nelson, came running to my truck.

Los Angeles Times

We identified a simple model, consistent with our current understanding of bees' navigational toolkit, that closely matched our observations: upon returning to the nest, a bee compares the length of the route just traveled to the shortest route previously experienced, and if this new route is shorter the bee will be more likely to repeat it in future foraging bouts.

Communicative and Integrative Biology

Worse, the administration didn't even allow pictures of the caskets of our fallen soldiers upon their return.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upon our return" to set a formal and slightly elevated tone when discussing events that will occur after a journey or period of absence. This phrasing is particularly effective in professional or academic writing.

Common error

Avoid substituting "upon" with "on" in formal contexts. While "on our return" is acceptable, "upon our return" maintains a higher degree of formality and is often preferred in formal writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon our return" typically functions as a prepositional phrase acting as an adverbial modifier. It indicates the timing or condition for the action described in the main clause. As Ludwig AI clarifies, this phrase is usable in written English and defines that something will happen after a period of absence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

13%

Science

8%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "upon our return" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed prepositional phrase used to denote events occurring after a return from a journey or absence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for written English. Its formality leans towards neutral to formal, making it suitable for diverse contexts such as news reports, academic papers, and professional correspondence. When aiming for a more relaxed tone, alternatives like "after we returned" might be preferred. Remember to keep the context and your intended audience in mind when choosing the most appropriate phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

following our return

Uses "following" instead of "upon", adding a slightly more formal touch.

on our return

A more concise phrasing, removing "upon" but retaining the formal tone.

after we returned

More casual phrasing, replacing "upon" with "after" for a less formal tone.

once we were back

A simple and straightforward alternative.

after arriving back

Focuses on the action of arriving, rather than just the state of being back.

subsequent to our return

A highly formal and somewhat archaic alternative using "subsequent to".

at the time of our return

A more descriptive and emphatic way of stating the timing.

when we got back

An informal alternative, suitable for casual conversation.

after our homecoming

Emphasizes the idea of returning home, adding an emotional element.

with our repatriation

Focuses on the act of repatriation, more common when returning to one's country of origin

FAQs

How can I use "upon our return" in a sentence?

You can use "upon our return" to indicate something that happens after coming back from a trip or absence. For example: "Upon our return, we plan to analyze the data we collected."

What are some alternatives to "upon our return"?

Alternatives include "after we returned", "on our return", or "following our return", depending on the level of formality you want to convey.

Is it more formal to say "upon our return" or "after we returned"?

"Upon our return" is generally considered more formal than "after we returned". The choice depends on the context and your desired tone.

What is the difference between "upon our return" and "returning"?

"Upon our return" is a prepositional phrase that introduces a clause, indicating timing. "Returning" is a verb form. For example, "Upon our return, we will unpack" versus "Returning home, we felt relieved."