upon the satisfactory

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "upon the satisfactory" is not complete and may not be correct in written English without additional context.
It can be used in formal contexts where you are referring to something that is contingent upon satisfactory conditions or outcomes. Example: "The contract will be finalized upon the satisfactory completion of all required inspections."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The future of the development of oil shale thus would seem to hinge upon the satisfactory resolution of some technical constraints, but it may depend just as well on economic and political conditions on a national and global scale.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The World Bank offered up to $500 million in loans for measures including helping vulnerable Ukranians pay their heating bills, but only "upon satisfactory completion of all the reform measures," a statement from the lenders said.

The New York Times

Sisal matures about three to five years after planting, depending upon the climate, yielding satisfactory fibre for seven or eight years thereafter and producing about 300 leaves throughout the productive period.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The fourth design, by Niehaus, was reluctantly approved by the committee, though the commission rejected all of the designs stating "no model submitted upon the competition is satisfactory".

Wikipedia

There is no one generally agreed-upon and completely satisfactory method of classifying mechanisms; individual authors have often adopted their own nomenclature and symbolism.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I mean, the internal stumbling upon some satisfactory answer to the question, What is this like?

The New Yorker

Sometimes you will receive a letter that tells you that the work is "accepted upon satisfactory responses to the reviewer's concerns".

Science Magazine

That is not to say that the early/late selection debate was entirely free of problematic assumptions relating to linearity only that psychology has not yet settled upon a satisfactory account of the way in which assumptions about linearity led the early/late debate into trouble.

SEP

The sustainability of the human species depends upon a satisfactory creative balance between these three primary aspects of human thought.

Communicative and Integrative Biology

§ 3929 authorized the United States Postmaster General, "upon evidence satisfactory to him" that mail fraud was being committed, to instruct the post master at the fraudster's local post office to return registered mail addressed to the fraudster to the sender with the word "Fraudulent" written or stamped on the envelope.

Wikipedia

Automated or manual on-tray arrangement tools are then applied to minimize support material use, and upon satisfactory alignment, the material and time costs are estimated (Fig. 44).

3D Printing in Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "upon the satisfactory" with more common and grammatically sound alternatives like "subject to satisfactory" or "dependent on satisfactory" to improve clarity and credibility in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "upon the satisfactory" in contexts where simpler, more direct language would be more appropriate. Overly formal phrasing can make your writing sound stilted and unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upon the satisfactory" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun. This construction sets a condition or prerequisite that must be met before a certain action or outcome can occur. Ludwig highlights that this usage is not common, and other options are better.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

25%

News & Media

25%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "upon the satisfactory" may appear in some formal contexts, Ludwig indicates it is not a common or fully grammatically correct phrase in contemporary English. Its meaning centers on establishing a condition or prerequisite for a specific action or outcome. Given its rarity and potential for awkwardness, it's generally advisable to use clearer, more direct alternatives such as "subject to satisfactory" or "conditional upon satisfactory" to ensure clarity and impact in your writing. Ludwig AI identifies the initial phrase as needing improvements and suggests the use of valid and modern alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

subject to satisfactory

Replaces "upon the" with "subject to", indicating dependence on a satisfactory condition.

contingent on satisfactory

Uses "contingent on" instead of "upon the", highlighting the conditional nature.

dependent on satisfactory

Emphasizes reliance on a satisfactory outcome using "dependent on".

conditional upon satisfactory

Adds 'conditional' to emphasize the conditional nature.

following satisfactory

Replaces "upon the" with "following", indicating sequence after a satisfactory event.

after satisfactory

Uses "after" to denote temporal succession relative to achieving satisfaction.

once satisfactory

Indicates that something will happen once a satisfactory condition is met.

given satisfactory

Presents the satisfactory condition as a given prerequisite.

provided satisfactory

Specifies that something is provided or ensured if the satisfactory condition is met.

assuming satisfactory

Expresses an assumption that a satisfactory condition will be met.

FAQs

What does "upon satisfactory completion" mean?

It means that something will occur or be granted only after the successful and adequate fulfillment of certain requirements or tasks. For instance, "Upon satisfactory completion of the course, you will receive a certificate".

Is there a less formal alternative to "upon satisfactory completion"?

Yes, you could say "after completing successfully" or "once you've finished and met the requirements". These options are more conversational.

How can I use "subject to satisfactory" in a sentence?

You can use "subject to satisfactory" to indicate that something is contingent on meeting certain standards. For example, "The job offer is "subject to satisfactory" background check results".

What is the difference between "dependent on satisfactory" and "subject to satisfactory"?

"Dependent on satisfactory" emphasizes reliance on a positive outcome, while "subject to satisfactory" indicates that something is conditional and may not proceed if standards aren't met. They are largely interchangeable, but "subject to" implies a higher degree of contingency.