upon realising that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "upon realising that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a moment of understanding or awareness about something that has just been discovered or acknowledged. Example: "Upon realising that the deadline was approaching, she quickly began to work on her project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Upon realising that she could not expect further promotion, she stormed off in a fashion calculated to damage David Cameron.This is mostly unfair.

The Economist

Streep swore at the microphone upon realising that she had come without her reading glasses, while Clooney paid joking tribute to the physical credentials of rival actor Michael Fassbender, who played a sex addict in Shame.

The Guardian - Film

Nothing, from road casualty statistics to the fixed horror of their passengers, upon realising that their driver imagines himself to be a rutting horse, will convince such individuals that they do not deserve special treatment, special respect, special exemptions from punishments that would, in any other circumstances, be imposed on the aggressive use of a lethal weapon.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I would also like to share that, upon realising that the supplement contained oxilofrine, my team made contact with both the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada), who not only ordered samples of the supplement from the manufacturer, but also tested and confirmed our findings.

The Guardian - Sport

"Further to this, upon realising that his actions had indeed caused offence, he immediately removed the tweet in question, within a matter of hours of it originally being posted.

BBC

Becca becomes hurt upon realising that Bradley and Stacey are getting married.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

• The Loafer studied the word "scarftying" for some time, pondering what new idiomatic horror could be upon us, before realising that it did indeed refer to the tying of scarves.

The Guardian - Books

I cannot explain the level of poverty, nor the pain I felt upon seeing it and realising that many of the artists I had just been applauding slept on concrete floors.

The Guardian - Music

Real learning will continue to require new information to be digested by the students' brains; realising that only upon graduation might be a little too late.Simon Falser Beijing SIR – Yet more breathless hype about MOOCs and students getting the chance to listen to "star lecturers".

The Economist

After her stint at The Sunday Times, she embarked upon a freelance writing career, realising that "I was on the wrong ladder.

Wikipedia

2) Break out of the bottleneck Rethinking engagement is about realising that your career is not dependent upon scrambling up the slippery ladder from PhD to professor.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upon realising that" to create a sense of immediacy and to emphasize the moment of understanding that leads to a subsequent action or decision. It adds a slightly formal tone to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect verb tenses after "upon realising that". Ensure the verb tense aligns with the timeline of the realization and the subsequent action. For example, use past perfect if the realization occurred before another past event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon realising that" functions as a conjunction phrase, introducing a clause that specifies the reason or condition leading to a particular action or state. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct and usable in written English. This type of construction establishes a temporal and causal link between the realization and the subsequent event.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "upon realising that" serves as a conjunction phrase that indicates a moment of understanding which prompts a subsequent action. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and can be used in written English. While it isn't the most common phrase, it can enrich formal communication with a more sophisticated expression. For a slightly elevated tone, employ "upon realising that", while in more casual settings, "after realising that" may suffice. Remember to ensure correct tense usage to accurately reflect the timeline of events. This construction appears most often in News & Media, Wiki and Science.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after realizing that

Indicates a temporal sequence where the realization precedes a subsequent action or understanding.

once it became clear that

Emphasizes the clarity and certainty of the realization.

when they understood that

Focuses on the moment of comprehension or understanding.

having understood that

Highlights the state of having already gained understanding.

as soon as they noticed that

Implies an immediate reaction following the realization.

on the understanding that

Suggests a condition or agreement based on the realization.

with the realization that

Indicates a concurrent understanding affecting a situation.

in light of the fact that

Highlights the factual basis leading to the realization.

now that it was apparent that

Focuses on the evident nature of the realization.

becoming aware that

Indicates the process of gradually gaining awareness.

FAQs

How can I use "upon realising that" in a sentence?

You can use "upon realising that" to introduce a statement of understanding or awareness that leads to a subsequent action or realization. For example, "Upon realising that the deadline was fast approaching, she began working diligently."

What can I say instead of "upon realising that"?

You can use alternatives like "after realizing that", "once it became clear that", or "when they understood that" depending on the context.

Is "upon realizing that" formal?

Yes, "upon realising that" is generally considered more formal than alternatives like "after realizing that" or "once I understood that". Choose it when aiming for a slightly elevated tone.

What's the difference between "upon realising that" and "because"?

"Upon realising that" indicates a moment of awareness leading to a decision or action, whereas "because" simply states a reason or cause. The former emphasizes the timing of the realization; the latter, the causal relationship. They are not interchangeable in all contexts. For example, "Because it was raining, I took an umbrella" vs. "Upon realizing that it was raining, I grabbed an umbrella."