upon sitting down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "upon sitting down" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an action that occurs immediately after someone takes a seat. Example: "Upon sitting down, she realized she had forgotten her notes for the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

"Upon sitting down, there were large portions of her right side physically touching my body," said Mr. Sampson, 5-foot-8 and 160 pounds.

The New York Times - Travel

She claimed her latest prize while quaffing a pint that matched her sequinned dress and upon sitting down lit a cigarette.

The Guardian - Music

(It is at this point that Mr. Knight's red Nike baseball cap, which he had taken off upon sitting down to talk, found its way back into his hands and was subject to a brief but aggressive brim-kneading).

The New York Times

Half an hour had passed since she and her companion had high-fived upon sitting down at Mu Ramen, the brick-and-mortar incarnation of Josh and Heidy Smookler's lauded pop-up, and now they were scraping their bowls.

The New Yorker

Whereas the women in the pub generally kept their phones in their purses and retrieved them only as needed, the men would take their phones out of their jacket pockets or briefcases upon sitting down and place them on the bar counter or table for all to see.

The New York Times - Science

Upon sitting down, we were promptly handed menus the size of an Organic Chemistry textbook to ensure that even the pickiest eater would find something they liked.

Duke University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The next day, as Mr. WILKESON was passing the Professor's door to an undertaker's, he placed his little son on the watch for him, and as Mr. W. returned he went out and tenderly forced him in, and showed him a room prepared for his use so long as be should stay in Gettysburgh, and then insisted upon his sitting down to a tea table generously and elegantly spread for him and five other strangers.

The New York Times

Deciphering of words can't be done upon first step through the door, but sentences become audible and clear when sitting down at a singular table.

HuffPost

You sitting down?

The New York Times

Are you sitting down?

Harvard University

But — are you sitting down?

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upon sitting down" to clearly indicate that an action or observation occurred directly after someone took a seat. This creates a sense of immediacy and can enhance narrative flow.

Common error

Avoid using "upon sitting down" in informal contexts, as it can sound overly formal or stilted. In casual conversation or writing, alternatives like "after sitting down" or "as soon as I sat" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon sitting down" functions as a prepositional phrase acting as an adverbial modifier. It indicates the specific timing of an action, clarifying when something occurred in relation to the act of sitting. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

25%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "upon sitting down" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase that functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating that an action occurred immediately after someone sat down. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English and adds a degree of formality. While phrases like "after sitting down" are more common in casual conversation, "upon sitting down" is well-suited for more formal contexts, such as news articles and academic writing, as evidenced by examples from sources like The New York Times and The New Yorker.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

After sitting down

This alternative is a more common and straightforward way to express the same timing of events.

Once seated

This phrase is slightly more formal and emphasizes the state of being seated.

Immediately after sitting

This alternative stresses the immediacy of the action following the act of sitting.

Just after being seated

This phrase highlights the recentness of the action in relation to the seating.

As soon as they sat down

This option uses a clause structure and focuses on the speed of the following action.

On taking a seat

A more formal and less common alternative, emphasizing the action of sitting.

Having sat down

This uses a perfect participle to indicate completion of the sitting action.

Right after taking a seat

This alternative adds emphasis to the immediacy with "right after".

The moment they sat down

This phrase emphasizes the instantaneous nature of the subsequent action.

Subsequent to sitting down

A highly formal alternative that may sound stilted in modern usage.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "upon sitting down" to sound more casual?

You could use phrases like "after sitting down", "as soon as I sat down", or "once I was seated". The choice depends on the specific context and the level of formality you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "on sitting down" instead of "upon sitting down"?

While "on sitting down" is grammatically correct, "upon sitting down" is more common and adds a slightly more formal tone. Both indicate that something happens immediately after the action of sitting.

What is the difference between "after sitting down" and "upon sitting down"?

"After sitting down" is a general statement about something happening following the act of sitting. "Upon sitting down" suggests that the event occurred immediately and directly as a result of sitting.

Can "upon sitting down" be used in all contexts?

While grammatically correct, "upon sitting down" is best suited for more formal writing or speech. In informal settings, consider using simpler alternatives like "after sitting down".