upon telling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "upon telling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something happens immediately after someone has conveyed information or a story. Example: "Upon telling her the news, she burst into tears."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Upon telling them that their account has been hacked, customers are then urged to hand over their cards and withdraw cash to give to a motorcycle courier for safekeeping, never to see it again.

Independent

"Don't do what I did and insist upon telling all your loved ones about your diagnosis personally," he says: It takes too long, and friends who hear about it before you get to them are hurt.

The Washington Post

I had no direct dealings with Batmanghelidjh, other than randomly bumping into her in a shop one weekend and, upon telling her I was a mentor, receiving a huge hug.

The Guardian - Opinion

But upon telling this writer-friend about the idea, she said, while looking much too ravishing over an open candle and with wet hair, "Oh, right, like Mary McCarthy".

The Guardian - Books

Upon telling Dr. John about their grant to the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund this year, he wrote: "All the Muses are special.

Huffington Post

Upon telling Scully and Pillar who reacts badly upon hearing that his son is dead of his vision, Mulder accepts that his sister is dead and in a better place.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Phillippa Kaufmann, QC for more than 150 people who were spied upon, told the hearing that such promises can never be absolute.

The Guardian

What does Ms. Estrich feel will happen to Kobe Bryant's accuser when she is called upon to tell her side of the story to the media?

The New York Times

The fact that the U727 is GPS-enabled is great, but it was never a feature I used or relied upon to tell me where I was.

TechCrunch

Let your friends know that you can be relied upon to tell the truth and to not gossip behind their backs.

WikiHow

"I noticed it at 7.45am on Sunday morning," Alan Baxter, 39, a homelessness officer from Berwick-upon-Tweed told the Guardian.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upon telling" to create a sense of immediacy and direct consequence between conveying information and the subsequent event.

Common error

Avoid using "upon telling" in very informal contexts where simpler alternatives like "after telling" or "when I told" would be more appropriate. It can sound stilted if overused.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon telling" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or clause. It introduces a circumstance or condition (the act of informing) that directly precedes another action. Ludwig indicates its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "upon telling" is a grammatically correct and usable construct in the English language, typically functioning as a prepositional phrase indicating that an event occurs immediately after information is conveyed. As Ludwig confirms, it is suitable for formal and neutral contexts such as news, media, and formal writing. While not as frequent as simpler alternatives like "after telling", "upon telling" adds a sense of immediacy. When using this phrase, be mindful of the potential for sounding overly formal in informal settings. Remember to use it to emphasize the close temporal relationship between the act of informing and its direct consequences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after informing

Replaces "upon telling" with a simpler, more direct phrasing.

on informing

Uses "on" instead of "upon", offering a slightly more concise alternative.

having told

Emphasizes the completion of the telling action before the subsequent event.

once informed

Highlights the moment information is received as the trigger for the next action.

when informing

Focuses on the act of informing as the condition for what follows.

after communicating

Replaces "telling" with a more general term for conveying information.

subsequent to disclosure

A more formal and somewhat legalistic alternative.

following the announcement

Suitable when the information is a formal announcement.

in the wake of the revelation

Emphasizes the impact of the information revealed.

as a result of the statement

Highlights the causal link between the statement and what happens next.

FAQs

How can I use "upon telling" in a sentence?

Use "upon telling" to indicate that something happens immediately after someone has conveyed information. For example: "Upon telling her the news, she burst into tears."

What can I say instead of "upon telling"?

You can use alternatives like "after informing", "on informing", or "having told" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "upon telling" or "after telling"?

Both "upon telling" and "after telling" are grammatically correct, but "upon telling" carries a slightly more formal tone and suggests a more immediate consequence. The choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

What's the difference between "upon telling" and "when telling"?

"Upon telling" implies a direct and immediate consequence following the act of telling, while "when telling" simply indicates that something occurred during the act of telling, without necessarily implying a direct causal link.