Q: I recently encountered a sentence about the need for “state and local leadership on immigration.” This use of “on” strikes me as lazy and inconsiderate of syntax. It’s probably permissible in conversation, but not in edited writing. Or am I wrong?
A: The preposition “on” has been used by respected writers since Anglo-Saxon days to mean about or concerning, and the usage is recognized by all eight standard dictionaries we regularly consult.
The Oxford English Dictionary, an etymological reference, defines this sense of “on” as “with reference to, as regards; concerning, about.”
Here’s an OED citation from the Old English Boethius, a late ninth- or early tenth-century translation of De Consolatione Philosophiae (“The Consolation of Philosophy”), a Latin treatise by the Roman philosopher Boethius:
“Hwæt godes magon we seggan on þa flæsclican unþeawas” (“What good may we say on the fleshly vices?”). The preface in one of two early manuscripts of the work identifies King Alfred as the author, but that attribution is now considered doubtful. The author was likely one of the scholars in his court, though Alfred may have overseen the translation.
Another Oxford example of the usage comes from Chaucer’s Middle English poem Troilus and Criseyde, composed around 1385: “He moste assente on that conclusioun, As for the tyme” (“He must agree on that conclusion, at least for the time being”).
An OED citation from Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte Darthur, a late 15th-century Middle English version of the Arthurian legends, says the Knights of the Round Table surpassed all others at jousts and tournaments, “and that was well proved … on [as regards] sir Launcelot de Lake.”
Since then, the preposition “on” has been used routinely for “about,” “concerning,” and so on in both formal and informal English. Here are some entries from online standard dictionaries and their examples for the usage:
American Heritage: “concerning; about: a book on astronomy”
Cambridge: “about or having something as a subject: Did you see that documentary on volcanoes last night?”; Sarita’s thesis is on George Crumb”
Collins: “concerned with or relating to: a tax on potatoes; a programme on archaeology”
Longman: “about a particular subject: an international conference on global warming”
Merriam-Webster: “used as a function word to indicate the subject of study, discussion, or consideration: a book on insects; reflect on that a moment; agree on price”
We’ll end with an example (for “meditating on”) from one of our favorite scenes in one of our favorite novels, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (1813). Here, Darcy is looking contemplative at a party at the home of Sir William Lucas when he’s approached by Miss Bingley:
“I can guess the subject of your reverie.”
“I should imagine not.”
“You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings in this manner,—in such society; and, indeed, I am quite of your opinion. I was never more annoyed! The insipidity, and yet the noise—the nothingness, and yet the self-importance, of all these people! What would I give to hear your strictures on them!”
“Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow.”
Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face, and desired he would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections. Mr. Darcy replied, with great intrepidity,—
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
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