upon the arrival

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "upon the arrival" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an action or event that occurs at the time someone or something arrives. Example: "Upon the arrival of the guests, the party officially began."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Upon the arrival of one of the stars, Beatlemania.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Many Catholics predicted a theological war upon the arrival of the new bishop.

The New York Times

Upon the arrival of the third new ball, the skipper looked like a marathon runner who'd hit the wall.

The Guardian - Sport

Perhaps Andrew just couldn't hold back the emotion anymore upon the arrival of the show's star guests... McFly.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The Palestinian stones, followed by the Israeli rubber bullets, would be loosed promptly upon the arrival of the press corps.

The New Yorker

The words to some 1950s song that my dad would sometimes burst into upon the arrival of an unexpected guest.

Independent

It was founded by C.C. Hutchinson, an Indian agent, in 1871 upon the arrival of the Santa Fe Railway.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Christian missionaries had started their educational activities as early as 1542, upon the arrival of St. Francis Xavier.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The shocked looks and the howls of anguish upon the arrival of a beef brisket cured them of complaining about turkey.

The New York Times

He rushed over to his bank & found that, apparently upon the arrival of the check, the bank had deducted $2 for its monthly penalty.

The New Yorker

In the case of the people living in North America upon the arrival of Europeans it was likewise based upon appearance….

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "upon the arrival", ensure that the subsequent clause clearly and directly relates to the arrival event, creating a cause-and-effect relationship or a sequence of actions.

Common error

While "upon the arrival" is grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for "on arrival" or "when they arrived" in less formal contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon the arrival" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a circumstance or condition. As Ludwig AI's examples show, it often precedes the main clause to indicate when or under what conditions the action in that clause takes place.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

25%

Wiki

24%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

14%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "upon the arrival" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to indicate that an event happens soon after someone or something arrives. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is commonly used in formal writing, particularly in news, scientific and encyclopedic contexts. While correct, remember that "upon the arrival" may sound too formal in casual settings, where alternatives like "on arrival" or "when they arrived" are more appropriate. When employing this phrase, ensure that the following clause clearly and immediately relates to the arrival, creating a direct and logical connection.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on arrival

This alternative is shorter and more direct, using simpler preposition "on" instead of "upon".

with the arrival

This option is more concise, indicating that something accompanies the arrival.

at the time of arrival

This alternative is more explicit and formal, specifying the moment of arrival.

following the arrival

This phrase emphasizes the sequence of events after the arrival.

subsequent to arrival

A formal alternative, denoting a following event after the arrival.

once they arrived

This option is a clause that changes the structure of the original phrase.

as soon as they arrived

This alternative stresses the immediacy of the event after arrival.

after reaching

This focuses on the action of reaching a place and what happens after.

at their destination

This is an alternative focusing on the target location of the arrival.

when they got there

This is a more informal version that means the same thing.

FAQs

How can I use "upon the arrival" in a sentence?

You can use "upon the arrival" to indicate that something happens immediately after someone or something arrives. For example, "Upon the arrival of the package, I immediately opened it."

What phrases can I use instead of "upon the arrival"?

Alternatives include "on arrival", "at the time of arrival", or "when they arrived". The best choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it better to say "on arrival" or "upon the arrival"?

"On arrival" is generally more concise and suitable for most situations. "Upon the arrival" is more formal and can add emphasis, but should be used sparingly to avoid sounding stilted.

What is the difference between "upon the arrival" and "after the arrival"?

"Upon the arrival" suggests an immediate consequence or action that follows the arrival. "After the arrival" simply indicates that something happened sometime after the arrival, without necessarily implying immediacy.