My opinion ON/OF/ABOUT ?

Question

Which is the correct preposition that follows the word 'opinion'?

BarbaraPA · Accepted Answer

If you have an opinion about a person, you would use generally use OF. I have a low opinion of him.

On a more general topic, you can have an opinon ON. Would you like to hear my opinions on the movies in the theaters today?

About and on are pretty interchangeable.

CalifJim · Answer

It depends on what meaning of opinion you use.

For most general use, on is the preposition you need when opinion means ideas and/or beliefs concerning a particular matter. opinion on stem-cell research, opinion on fundamentalist religion, opinion on cable TV offerings this season, opinion on a new tax law, etc.

of is the preposition you need when opinion means the degree of esteem in which you hold someone, less often, something. In this case an adjective is likely to precede opinion. high opinion of her brother, low opinion of dishonest people, high opinion of herself, etc.

Personally, I don't use opinion about -- with the possible exception of the absence of an opinion: I don't have an opinion about that. For the first sense described above, you can also use opinion regarding or opinion concerning. What is your opinion regarding the Supreme Court's decision on eminent domain?

CJ

Davidrock65 · Answer

What's with the possible exception of the absence of an opinion mean?

Nef · Answer

Davidrock65
What's with the possible exception of the absence of an opinion mean?

"The absence of an opinion" means "without an opinion" or "not having an opinion" (on a particular question or subject).

An "exception" is a situation (case/circumstance/set of events) that is different from most other cases.

You may hear that "English has an exception" to almost every rule. This means that there are cases that don't follow the general rules. This kind of case (situation) is different from most cases, and needs to be handled on an individual basis (by itself).

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"What is your opinion of XYZ pizza?"

" I have no opinion about (of) XYZ pizza. ("I have never thought about XYZ pizza" or "I don't know anything about XYZ pizza".......)

CalifJim · Answer

Thanks, Nef, for covering for me while I was away!
I can't add anything to your explanation!

CJ

Nef · Answer

I'm glad I didn't blow it!   <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>   Is there an informal guideline about responding to follow-up questions like this?  Dive in?  Wait?  Judgment call?

CalifJim · Answer

As far as I'm concerned, don't stand on ceremony! Just dive in! The person who was having the dialog with the original poster can dive in later when available, if necessary or desired.

CJ

Believer · Answer

Thank you. That was another good post made by you.

In regard to the usage of the preposition 'of,' with all due respect, I think I have seen more than handful cases in the past years that showed themselves not being bound by your guideline. Limiting the potential use of the preposition 'of' to those situations involving noting the degree of esteem in holding someone or something seems to be just too narrow of a guideline considering its prevalent uses today, acceptable or unacceptable.

What is your opinion of moral crisis involving the youth of today?

I think for (in??) the above sentence it will be better to use "opinion on" rather than "opinion of" but I think I have seen similar situations where interchanging of "of" and "on" is loosely accepted.

Side question: Can I use the word "themselves" to refer to the cases in the above sentence?

Doriscornago · Answer

Here's a new blog post that dives into the details of that question:

https://www.englishforums.com/blog/opinion-of-or-about/

My opinion ON/OF/ABOUT ?

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