when you wish

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when you wish" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is expressing a desire or hope for something to happen at a specific time or under certain conditions. Example: "When you wish upon a star, your dreams may come true."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

When you wish upon a rape.

The New York Times

"#jonathanfranzenhates when you wish upon a star.

The New York Times - Books

Then sit down when you wish.

The New York Times - Food

You say this when you wish to make me angry.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

This will limit any potential buyers when you wish to sell".

Independent

When you wish to serve, purée the soup, then reheat and proceed with the recipe.

The New York Times - Health

"When you wish upon a star," he sang, "makes no difference who you are".

The New York Times

There are certainly moments when you wish they'd lay off the preppy brainbox routine.

The Guardian - Music

When you wish to join the queue, click "Sign Up" at the CS234-Winter 2019 queue.

Stanford University

There are instances in his narrative when you wish he would go into matters more thoroughly.

The New York Times - Books

There are moments when you wish everyone would just burst into a peppy number from "1776".

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "when you wish" to clearly link a specific action or outcome to a desired condition or time. For example, "When you wish to access the premium features, upgrade your account."

Common error

Don't use "when you wish" in situations where the timing or condition is unclear. Instead of saying, "You can have it when you wish", specify "You can have it when you wish to complete the project".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when you wish" functions as an adverbial clause of time or condition, modifying a verb or clause by specifying when a certain action or event is desired or intended. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. Many examples provided by Ludwig show this function, such as "When you wish to serve, purée the soup."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

43%

News & Media

42%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "when you wish" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial clause that allows individuals to specify the timing or conditions under which a desired action will occur. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely accepted and versatile. Predominantly found in Wiki and News & Media contexts, it carries a neutral formality, making it appropriate for diverse communication scenarios. The phrase's strength lies in granting control to the recipient, empowering them to act according to their desires. Remember to use "when you wish" to clearly connect actions to desired conditions, and avoid ambiguity by specifying the timing or conditions precisely.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

whenever you desire

Replaces 'wish' with 'desire', emphasizing a stronger feeling of wanting something; also replaces 'when' with 'whenever', meaning 'at any time'.

if you want

A more direct and informal way of expressing a conditional desire.

if it is your wish

Emphasizes that the action depends entirely on the person's wish being fulfilled.

should you desire

A more formal and polite way to express a conditional desire.

as you prefer

Indicates a choice based on personal preference.

if you so desire

A slightly archaic and emphatic way of expressing 'if you want'.

at your convenience

Shifts the focus to the timing being suitable for the person wishing.

when it pleases you

A more formal way of saying 'when you are happy with it'.

when you feel inclined

Indicates a desire stemming from a feeling of wanting to do something.

on your command

Emphasizes that the action will be performed only when instructed or wished.

FAQs

How can I use "when you wish" in a sentence?

You can use "when you wish" to indicate a condition or time at which a desired action can occur. For example, "Contact this person "when you wish to follow up"" or "When you wish to join the queue, click 'Sign Up'".

What are some alternatives to saying "when you wish"?

Alternatives to "when you wish" include "whenever you desire", "if you want", or "at your convenience" depending on the context and level of formality.

Is it correct to say "if you wish" instead of "when you wish"?

Both "when you wish" and "if you wish" are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "If you wish" implies a conditional action that may or may not happen, whereas "when you wish" implies that the action will happen at a specific time chosen by the person wishing.

What is the difference between "when you wish" and "where you wish"?

"When you wish" refers to a specific time or condition related to a desire, while "where you wish" refers to a location related to a desire or preference. They are used in entirely different contexts.