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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
when acquired by
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "when acquired by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the circumstances under which something is obtained or received by someone or something else. Example: "The rights to the property will be transferred when acquired by the new owner."
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Science
Academia
Formal & Business
Wiki
Encyclopedias
Alternative expressions(1)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
12 human-written examples
Avdel Adhesives became Permabond when acquired by Unilever and subsequently, Bondmaster following a transfer to ICI.
When acquired by the consignor at Christie's on Nov. 18, 1997, the price of the Rothko had been a more modest $1.87 million.
News & Media
These authorities additionally demonstrate that a claim which, when acquired by the state of South Dakota, was without legal sanction, did not, by the mere fact of such acquisition, become a justiciable, enforceable right.
Academia
This heterogeneity being that they are often off-nadir when acquired by satellite and also acquired at different times of day, resulting in at times drastically different images due to the solar azimuth.
Academia
The spike in toxic pollution raises questions about the public health risks posed by the ageing coal-fired plant, which was slated for a 50-year lifetime when acquired by AGL in September 2014.
News & Media
Given that the house was a bare shell when acquired by the Landmark Trust, it's impressive how far it has gone in recreating how the house might have looked.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
48 human-written examples
The data were coded by time when acquired from the driving simulator.
We wished to build upon Greene et al.'s (2014) research on the role of digital literacy when acquiring knowledge by conducting a similar study with a learning task focused on acquiring understanding.
Science
The main idea behind CS is to diminish the number of steps involved when acquiring data by combining sampling and compression into a single step [3, 4].
When LAN was acquired by SBE, he became vice president of Wide Area Network Engineering until four years ago, when he began exploring new ventures.
Or when it becomes acquired by an institution?
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Use "when acquired by" to clearly indicate the point in time at which a change in ownership or control takes effect. This phrasing works well in both formal and informal contexts.
Common error
Avoid using the future tense with "when acquired by" unless referring to a hypothetical future event. The phrase usually describes something that has already happened or a condition that is currently true.
Source & Trust
89%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "when acquired by" functions as an adverbial clause of time, specifying the moment at which a particular state or condition came into being. It introduces a temporal context for the main clause, indicating the point in time when the acquisition occurred, as supported by Ludwig.
Frequent in
News & Media
40%
Science
20%
Academia
15%
Less common in
Formal & Business
10%
Wiki
10%
Encyclopedias
5%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "when acquired by" serves as an adverbial clause of time, used to specify the point at which an entity changes ownership. Ludwig analysis indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and appears across various contexts, primarily in News & Media, Science, and Academia. Although versatile, this expression is most effectively employed in factual contexts and formal communications. Alternatives such as "upon its acquisition by" or "after being acquired by" can provide subtle shifts in emphasis. Considering Ludwig AI states this phrase is correct, the use of "when acquired by" offers a clear and reliable way to communicate the timing of acquisitions.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
upon its acquisition by
Replaces "when" with "upon", indicating immediacy or a specific moment in time.
after being acquired by
Changes the emphasis to the state following the acquisition.
following acquisition by
Similar to "after being acquired by", but more concise.
post-acquisition by
Uses a prefix to indicate the period after the acquisition.
once it was acquired by
Emphasizes the condition being met after the acquisition.
subsequent to acquisition by
More formal and emphasizes the sequence of events.
with the acquisition by
Highlights the acquisition as the event leading to a change.
as a result of being acquired by
Focuses on the acquisition as the cause of a particular outcome.
on acquisition by
Similar to "upon its acquisition by", but more compact.
after the takeover by
Replaces 'acquired' with 'takeover', suggesting a potentially less friendly acquisition.
FAQs
How can I rephrase "when acquired by" to sound more formal?
For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "upon its acquisition by" or "subsequent to acquisition by", which lend a more sophisticated and professional feel to your writing.
Is "when acquired by" grammatically correct in all contexts?
Yes, "when acquired by" is generally grammatically correct. However, ensure the surrounding sentence structure is logical and the tense is appropriate to avoid awkward phrasing. For example, avoid using future tense with it unless describing a hypothetical scenario.
What's the difference between "when acquired by" and "after being acquired by"?
While both phrases indicate a change in ownership, "when acquired by" emphasizes the point in time the acquisition occurred, whereas "after being acquired by" focuses on the state or consequences following the acquisition.
Can I use "when acquired by" to describe acquiring knowledge or skills?
While grammatically possible, "when acquired by" is more commonly used to describe changes in ownership of companies, properties, or other tangible or intangible assets. For describing acquiring knowledge, consider using "when learning" or "while studying".
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
89%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested