on designing...

Question

What does it mean?For example, I came accross an article with a title: "On designing a solution for new generation personal computers"

Nona the brit · Accepted Answer

The phrase isn't 'on (designing)' here. It could be on (almost any verb).

On – concerned with or relating to a particular subject, thing, or activity.

So this just means 'this is an article about designing solutions for the new generation PCs.

Kree · Answer

I find this a much-used but inelegant way to give a title to an article or book about any subject. As noted above, the phrase is "On ****" where **** is almost any word (I agree that it is mostly followed by a verb, but it can also be followed by subjects."

"On Writing An Excellent Post"
"On Making Muffins"
"On Cabins"
"On My Mother"

I guess one idosyncratic use of this would be when "On" comes at the start of a title but is then followed by a place name. In the following example, Golden Pond is a place.

"On Golden Pond" (a movie -- a great one!)

I think that in the case where On is used before a verb, the better phrase would be:

How to Write an Excellent Post
How to Make Muffins

This is true for two reasons:
1) It is much easier to understand what the article is about
2) It is written in the "active" sense rather than the "passive" sense. When words are followed by "ing" on the end, it almost always means the word is being used in a less interesting way than if the sentence could be written using the active version of the word:

"The chef is cooking hot dogs tonight."
"The chef will cook hot dogs tonight."

The second is shorter, more effective and more "active"

I hope I haven't thoroughly confused you!

Kree in California

on designing...

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions