Prepositions with 'Help' and 'Assist'

Question

A.  Please let me know if you need help with this.B.  Please let me know if you need help on this.1.  Do the above sentences have the same meaning?2.  Can 'with' and 'on' here be used interchangeably?C.  Thank you for helping out.D.  Thank you for helping.3.  What is the difference in meaning between the above sentences?E.  He will assist me in the selection of outstanding students.F.  He will assist me with the selection of outstanding students.4.  Do the above sentences have the same meaning?5.  Can 'in' and 'with' here be used interchangeably?Please advise.  Thanks.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

A. Please let me know if you need help with this.
B. Please let me know if you need help on this.
1. Do the above sentences have the same meaning? Yes.

2. Can 'with' and 'on' here be used interchangeably? I don't use them interchangably.

I use with when the activity is doing something. e.g. Help me with serving dinner. Help me with my homework.

I use on when the activity is restricted to verbal advice (e.g. over the phone). I use on with the noun help, not the verb help. I need help on this subject. (Help me to understand something.)

C. Thank you for helping out.
D. Thank you for helping.
3. What is the difference in meaning between the above sentences?
I use help out when it involves a group activity, perhaps a big event with a lot of work. Thanks for helping out with the big Thanksgiving dinner.

I use help when it is an individual activity of short duration. Thank you for helping me with my luggage.

E. He will assist me in the selection of outstanding students.
F. He will assist me with the selection of outstanding students.

4. Do the above sentences have the same meaning? Yes.

5. Can 'in' and 'with' here be used interchangeably?
I would use either one of these.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you, AlpheccaStars, for all the answers. It's much clearer now.

AlpheccaStarsI use on when the activity is restricted to verbal advice (e.g. over the phone)

I don't completely understand this. Could you please give an example?

AlpheccaStarsI use on with the noun help, not the verb help

Would you say the first one is wrong below and the second one is correct?

Please help me on the topic.
Please help me with the topic.

If the answer to the preceding question is yes, would you say my original sentence A is incorrect because 'help' here is a noun?

A. Please let me know if you need help with this.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi A-

s,

I hope you don't mind me asking for your assistance again in this matter.
I would appreciate your help here. Thanks.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Example 1: help on

I'd like some help on a problem with my health. I can't sleep well at night. What do you advise?

I'd like some help on my investment decisions. Should I buy some shares in Microsoft?
I'd like some help on what to buy for Mother's birthday. Should I get her something practical or something sentimental?
I'd like some help on how to bake a pound cake. What temperature do you use, and how long do you bake it?

Example 2: help with
I'd like some help with installing this software. Can you walk me through it?
I need help with doing this yoga exercise. Can you show me?
I need some help with this new iPhone. Do you know how to operate it?

AnonymousPlease help me on the topic.
Please help me with the topic.

They are both OK. I use with a lot more than on.

AnonymousA. Please let me know if you need help with this.

This is fine.

Anonymous · Answer

To summarize, -- if I've completely understood -- if 'help' is used as a noun, then we can use 'on' and 'with' interchangeably. However, if 'help' is used as a verb, 'with' is preferred over 'on'.

I hope I got the right idea. Thanks so much for your help.

Anonymous · Answer

Help me with Burglaries

Ruby2zdy · Answer

In A and B, "help on" is not standard, although a lot of people may use it. For C and D, the sentences are equivalent in meaning.

Prepositions with 'Help' and 'Assist'

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