upon taking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "upon taking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an action that occurs immediately after another action, often in formal or academic contexts. Example: "Upon taking the medication, the patient reported feeling better within minutes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

All presidents do this upon taking office.

The New York Times

Upon taking the position, Cavallo acted quickly.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Nervous?" he said upon taking the stage.

The New York Times

Upon taking office, Mr. Bloomberg tried to govern that way.

The New York Times

But Trump reversed those guidelines immediately upon taking office.

The New Yorker

Upon taking office, Allawi began reversing the ban.

The New Yorker

Upon taking a pill, my mood lifts within 20 minutes.

The New York Times

Upon taking office in 1989, Mr. Garner's administration prepared a new master plan for the village.

The New York Times

Almost every governor has begun a D.M.V. overhaul upon taking office.

The New York Times

This is the approach that Colombia's president, Andrés Pastrana, proposed upon taking office in 1998.

The New York Times

So he was expected to remove it upon taking a seat.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upon taking" to indicate that an action happens immediately or very soon after another. This phrasing adds a touch of formality and precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "upon taking" in casual conversation or informal writing. It can sound overly formal or stilted. Opt for simpler alternatives like "after taking" or "when taking" in those situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon taking" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate the timing or condition under which an action occurs. As shown by Ludwig, this phrase introduces a circumstance that leads to a subsequent event or state.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

7%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "upon taking" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase, as validated by Ludwig. It serves to establish a clear temporal connection between actions, indicating that something occurs immediately following another. While versatile, "upon taking" leans toward formal registers, often appearing in news media and encyclopedic contexts. When aiming for less formal communication, consider alternatives like "after taking" or "when taking".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after taking

Replaces "upon" with "after", offering a more common and slightly less formal alternative.

immediately after taking

Adds emphasis on the immediacy of the following action.

on taking

Uses "on" instead of "upon", maintaining a formal tone but slightly less emphasized.

right after taking

Similar to "immediately after", but slightly more informal.

when taking

Shifts the focus to the timing of the action, similar but emphasizes the moment of taking.

just after taking

Indicates a very short time lapse between the two actions.

following taking

Highlights the sequence of events, placing emphasis on what comes after the action.

subsequent to taking

A more formal and less common way to express the sequence of events.

once having taken

Emphasizes the completion of the action before the next one occurs, more formal.

after the action of taking

A more descriptive and less concise alternative.

FAQs

What does "upon taking" mean?

"Upon taking" means immediately after or as a direct result of performing an action. It's often used in formal or official contexts.

What can I say instead of "upon taking"?

You can use alternatives like "after taking", "when taking", or "on taking" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "upon taking" or "after taking"?

"Upon taking" is more formal and emphasizes the immediate sequence of events. "After taking" is more general and suitable for most situations.

How to use "upon taking" in a sentence?

Use "upon taking" followed by a noun or gerund (verb ending in -ing) to describe an action that immediately follows another. For example, "Upon taking office, the new president announced new policies."