upon receipt of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "upon receipt of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the phrase when you are describing an event that will occur after something else happens – usually something related to receiving something. For example: "Upon receipt of your application, we will review it and contact you within five business days."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Credit cards are charged upon receipt of orders.

The New Yorker

§ 107.1210 Payment of leverage fee upon receipt of commitment.

Cornell University

§ 210.9 Action of Commission upon receipt of complaint.

Cornell University

Upon receipt of confirmation, proceed to next step.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Each commanded in large block letters: Payment is due upon receipt of this invoice.

The New York Times

(Poisonous snakes will be erased upon receipt of a yellow air-warning).

The New Yorker

In some countries the bar association upon receipt of a complaint will hold a hearing.

Britannica

Upon receipt of the defense brief, the prosecution will have 60 additional days to respond.

The New York Times

P.S.: Can I have a cookie?" Upon receipt of this correspondence, I wrote back: "No cookies before dinner.

The New York Times

§ 83.22 What notice will OFA provide upon receipt of a documented petition?

Cornell University

Upon receipt of a second complaint, a students Internet connection may be terminated immediately.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "upon receipt of", ensure the sentence structure clearly identifies who is receiving what and what action follows.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by clearly specifying what is being received. For example, instead of "Action will be taken upon receipt", specify "Action will be taken upon receipt of your application".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon receipt of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or clause, indicating when an action takes place. It denotes that the action occurs immediately or very soon after something is received. As Ludwig AI confirms, its function is clear and grammatical.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Academia

32%

Science

29%

News & Media

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "upon receipt of" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate that an action will occur immediately after something is received. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and widely used. This phrase is commonly found in formal and professional contexts such as academia, science, business, and news. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what is being received to avoid ambiguity. While "upon receipt of" is generally formal, consider more informal alternatives like "when you get" in casual settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on receiving

This alternative is a more concise synonym, using a simple preposition to indicate the timing.

following receipt of

This is a more formal alternative using "following" to emphasize the sequence of events.

after receiving

This alternative specifies the sequence of events, indicating what happens after the act of receiving is complete.

subsequent to receiving

This is a more formal and less common way of expressing the same idea.

when you receive

This alternative uses a clause to describe the moment of receiving as the trigger for the subsequent action.

after the acquisition of

Focuses on a more official act of getting something.

as soon as you obtain

This alternative focuses on the immediate action following acquisition.

directly after obtaining

This emphasizes the immediate succession of events.

once you get

This alternative is more informal, using simpler vocabulary.

upon getting

An alternative using a more casual verb, making it less formal.

FAQs

How to use “upon receipt of” in a sentence?

Use "upon receipt of" to indicate that something will happen immediately after receiving something. For example, "Payment is due upon receipt of the invoice".

What can I say instead of “upon receipt of”?

You can use alternatives such as "on receiving", "after receiving", or "when you receive" depending on the context.

Is “upon receipt of” formal or informal?

The phrase "upon receipt of" is generally considered formal. For more informal contexts, consider using phrases like "when you get" or "after getting".

What's the difference between “upon receipt of” and “after receiving”?

"Upon receipt of" implies immediacy, suggesting the action happens almost instantaneously after receiving something. "After receiving" simply indicates that the action happens sometime after the receipt, without necessarily implying immediacy.