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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
Usage
"Information on" - correct usage?
I'm trying to settle (i.e. win) a debate over whether or not the following usage of the word "on" is correct:
"Information on snafucation is available in section 3."
To me, this just doesn't seem correct at all. The problem is that I cannot articulate exactly why this use of "on" is incorrect (which serves me right for not paying attention in English classes back in school). My correction of the above sentence would be:
"Information about snafucation is available in section 3."
Can anyone definitively explain why the usage "information on" is incorrect (if it is indeed incorrect)? Also, can anyone recommend a good site for using as a reference for grammar questions of this nature?
Rob
"Information on snafucation is available in section 3."
To me, this just doesn't seem correct at all. The problem is that I cannot articulate exactly why this use of "on" is incorrect (which serves me right for not paying attention in English classes back in school). My correction of the above sentence would be:
"Information about snafucation is available in section 3."
Can anyone definitively explain why the usage "information on" is incorrect (if it is indeed incorrect)? Also, can anyone recommend a good site for using as a reference for grammar questions of this nature?
Rob
Top answer
e. win) a debate over whether or not the following usage of the word "on" is ... indeed incorrect)?
- e.
- win) a debate over whether or not the following usage of the word "on" is ...
- indeed incorrect)?
- [/nq] Although "on" is correct, I'd call it "headline-writers' English".
- Normally we use the longer word, but newspapers favour the shorter one.
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4 Answers
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[nq:1]I'm trying to settle (i.e. win) a debate over whether or not the following usage of the word "on" is ... indeed incorrect)? Also, can anyone recommend a good site for using as a reference for grammar questions of this nature?[/nq]
Although "on" is correct, I'd call it "headline-writers' English". Normally we use the longer word, but newspapers favour the shorter one. Only a very small pr
Although "on" is correct, I'd call it "headline-writers' English". Normally we use the longer word, but newspapers favour the shorter one. Only a very small pr
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C'mon guys, I'm not going to win the debate if you all keep saying that "information on" is correct usage.
I mean, where's the long rant about how the very essence of our language is threatened by abusers of the word "on"? Let's face it, the word "on" has a terrible history - it featured in several of Hitler's speeches, was apparently uttered by Stalin himself on occasion, and can be found in
I mean, where's the long rant about how the very essence of our language is threatened by abusers of the word "on"? Let's face it, the word "on" has a terrible history - it featured in several of Hitler's speeches, was apparently uttered by Stalin himself on occasion, and can be found in
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[nq:1]It's your beholden duty[/nq]
The fixed phrase, to me, is "bounden duty", not "beholden". I'm trying to work out whether I've ever heard "beholden duty", and I can't quite decide.
The fixed phrase, to me, is "bounden duty", not "beholden". I'm trying to work out whether I've ever heard "beholden duty", and I can't quite decide.
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[nq:1]C'mon guys, I'm not going to win the debate if you all keep saying that "information on" is correct usage. ... your beholden duty to rise up and crush - or at least correct, very sternly - the dissenters among us.[/nq]
Google doesn't help you out.
"information on" 1,480,000
"information about" 1,400,000 Ratio 1:1
Quite the even split.
I hope you did not wager a large amou
Google doesn't help you out.
"information on" 1,480,000
"information about" 1,400,000 Ratio 1:1
Quite the even split.
I hope you did not wager a large amou
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