in/on/of

Question

I have no idea why 'in' has been used here!Any help is welcome!'Joe Bloggs lectures in sociology at the University of Harvard' (Obviously, I've removed the key details...)Thanks

BarbaraPA · Accepted Answer

Which prepositions are used in which situations is highly idiomatic.

He lectures on the topic of the effects on welfare policy, but he lectures in sociology.

Neeraj Jain · Answer

AnonymousI have no idea why 'in' has been used here!

Any help is welcome!

'Joe Bloggs lectures in sociology at the University of Harvard' (Obviously, I've removed the key details...)

Thanks

Does the original poster intend to remove the preposition "in". Well, then the sentence will not make sense.

What about:

Joe Bloggs takes is a sociology lecturer at the University of Hardward.

BarbaraPA · Answer

NJ, I think your word "takes" was typed by mistake?

Yoong Liat · Answer

Hi Jain
Joe Bloggs ~~takes~~ is a sociology lecturer at the University of Hardward.
Where is the University of Hardward?

Ant_222 · Answer

GG: «He lectures on the topic of the effects on welfare policy, but he lectures in sociology.»

That's interesting. What about using "lectures" as a noun:

«Late professor Povarov read excellent lectures in/on Cybernetics.»

Thanks in advance.

BarbaraPA · Answer

I would say that he "gave" the lectures rather than reading them, but that's fine.

You'll also hear something like "Uh oh. I was supposed to be home by 11, and it's almost midnight. I'm in for a lecture from my parents about being responsible."

So, to sum up: You can lecture on a specific topic, lecture in a field of study at a university, or give a lecture to your students or your children.)

(Of course, these are all American uses. As we've learned, sometimes thers are differences among the various popuations who use English.)

Ant_222 · Answer

GG:

Not that I found your post useless — it's actually interesting and lucidly-written... But... What's your opinion as to my question about lections on/in Cybernetics?

«I would say that he "gave" the lectures rather than reading them, but that's fine.»

So, "reading lectures" does work, though not as good as giving or delivering them. Right?

P.S.: I must be either dumb or oversrupulous... Or both.

BarbaraPA · Answer

Oh, sorry, I missed the in/on - I though you were asking about read a lecture.

You're neither dumb NOR over-anything. I was just inattentive.

My first choice woud be "gave a lecture on cybernetics." But if I heard "in" I wouldn't think twice about it - it woud sound fine.

Ant_222 · Answer

Thank you very much, GG.

CalifJim · Answer

lectures in/on Cybernetics

lectures in a general field of study
lectures on a specific topic (within a field of study)

So if the lecture is on feedback (a topic in cybernetics), it is a lecture in cybernetics.
But if the whole topic of cybernetics is the topic of the speech, it is a lecture on cybernetics.

Likewise, if a lecture is on recent discoveries or on analyses of data within sociology, it is a lecture on the discoveries, or on the analyses, and a lecture in sociology. However, if the lecture consists of material entirely on the topic of sociology (even if the lecture is given as part of a mathematics class), it's a lecture on sociology (but possibly a lecture in mathematics).

Compare:
I read a chapter on polynomials in a math book.
The teacher gave us his opinions on the break-up of the Soviet Union in our political science class.
People in science sometimes write articles on air pollution.

CJ

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