"Available upon application" means that something is accessible or obtainable only after a formal request has been made. It implies a process of requesting and potentially being approved for access.
The meaning is semi-idiomatic. While "available" and "application" have their individual meanings, the phrase as a whole carries a specific connotation of a formal request being a prerequisite.
The register is typically neutral to formal, often used in official or professional contexts.
The grammatical pattern is: [Thing] + is/are + available upon application.
Typical objects, complements, or prepositions that follow The phrase usually follows a noun (the thing being offered) and doesn't typically take further complements or prepositions after "application."
Can the components be separated? (for phrasal verbs) The components cannot be separated. "Upon application" functions as a fixed prepositional phrase.
What sounds unnatural: wrong verb, wrong preposition, wrong object
Using incorrect prepositions (e.g., "available on application," "available by application") sounds unnatural. Similarly, replacing "available" with a weaker synonym (e.g., "obtainable upon application") might diminish the formal tone, but isn't grammatically incorrect.
These examples are sourced from available upon application on Ludwig.guru.
"The dividend is available, upon application, to all legal Alaskan residents with strict eligibility requirements." — Injury Epidemiology
"We used de-identified data, which are publically available for research upon application to the CRN." — British Journal of Cancer
"All Dinaledi fossil material is available for study by researchers upon application to the Evolutionary Studies Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand where the material is curated (contact Bernhard Zipfel [ Bernhard.Zipfel@wits.ac.za])." — eLife
"Upon application, a hot stinging sensation occurs." — WikiHow
"Painkillers are available upon request"." — The New Yorker
Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/available+upon+application
Depending on the level of formality or the specific situation, you might want to vary your language.
| Phrase | Context |
|---|---|
| available on request | Slightly less formal; more common in general use. |
| obtainable by applying | Emphasizes the action of applying. |
| access requires application | Focuses on the requirement of applying for access. |
| subject to application | Indicates that availability depends on a successful application. |
| only available through application | Highlights the exclusive means of obtaining something. |
| can be obtained by applying | More verbose, but emphasizes the action of obtaining. |
A common mistake is using the wrong preposition, such as 'available on application' or 'available by application', instead of 'available upon application'. Replacing "available" with a synonym like "obtainable" isn't necessarily incorrect, but it might shift the register slightly. The phrase is not separable; the components must remain together.
| Expression | Meaning | Grammatical Pattern | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| available upon application | Accessible or obtainable only after a formal request. | [Thing] + is/are + available upon application | Neutral to Formal |
No, the phrase "available upon application" is a fixed expression and should not be separated. The preposition "upon" is crucial to the meaning and grammatical structure.
While both phrases indicate accessibility, "available upon application" suggests a more formal process involving a written or formal request. "Available on request" is generally less formal and implies a simpler process of asking.
No, the correct preposition to use is "upon." Saying "available on application" or "available by application" is a common mistake and sounds unnatural to native English speakers. The correct phrasing is always "available upon application."
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