when it arrived

USAGE SUMMARY

"when it arrived" is a perfectly correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use this phrase when you are referring to something that has been expected, or anticipated, or looked forward to, and has then taken place. For example: "Everyone waited anxiously for the mail, and when it arrived, they all cheered!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It was eight o'clock when it arrived.

The Guardian

And when it arrived, she played wonderfully.

The New York Times - Sports

I ignored the email when it arrived.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

When it arrived, her garage floor cracked.

The New York Times

Even the Buffaslug was a big seller when it arrived.

The New York Times - Sports

When it arrived at 5 p.m. there were no apples.

The New York Times - Food

And when it arrived, it was a few cars short.

The New York Times

When it arrived, all on board were detained.

The New York Times

He dismissed the invitation with a shrug when it arrived in the vice president's office.

The New York Times

"By tracking it, you can tell when it arrived in New York — 1999".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

But where this water came from and when it arrived has been a longstanding debate.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "when it arrived" to clearly indicate the timing of an event in relation to an arrival. Ensure the sentence structure maintains clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by placing the clause containing "when it arrived" as close as possible to the noun it modifies. Incorrect: "The package was damaged when it arrived, according to the recipient." Correct: "According to the recipient, the package was damaged when it arrived."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when it arrived" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main clause by indicating when an event occurred. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Science

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "when it arrived" functions as an adverbial clause, indicating the timing of an event in relation to an arrival. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used, as evidenced by numerous examples from diverse sources. It's most commonly found in news and media contexts, suggesting a neutral register. When using this phrase, ensure clear sentence structure to avoid misplaced modifiers. Consider using alternative phrases like "upon its arrival" or "after it arrived" for variety. The phrase is a versatile way to establish temporal context, providing a clear sequence of events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

upon its arrival

Uses a prepositional phrase instead of a subordinate clause; more formal.

following its delivery

Specifically refers to the delivery of something; more precise.

on its reaching

Emphasizes the action of reaching a destination rather than simply arriving.

at the time of its arrival

More verbose and emphasizes the specific timing of the arrival.

after it was received

Focuses on the act of receiving rather than the arrival itself.

as soon as it got there

More informal, emphasizing immediacy and destination.

once it had landed

Suggests the arrival involved something landing, like a plane or package.

the moment it showed up

Very informal and emphasizes the unexpected nature of the arrival.

when it was presented

Focuses on the act of something being presented rather than simply arriving.

subsequent to its coming

Highly formal and less common way of expressing the same idea.

FAQs

How can I use "when it arrived" in a sentence?

Use "when it arrived" to introduce a clause that describes what happened at the time something reached its destination. For example: "The crowd cheered "when it arrived"."

What are some alternatives to "when it arrived"?

You can use alternatives such as "upon its arrival", "after it arrived", or "as soon as it arrived" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "when it had arrived" instead of "when it arrived"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "when it arrived" is simpler and more common. "When it had arrived" implies a completed action before another action in the past, which may not always be necessary.

What's the difference between ""when it arrived"" and "where it arrived"?

"When it arrived" refers to the time something reached its destination, while "where it arrived" refers to the location.