a definition on how

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a definition on how" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used when explaining a method or process, but the preposition "on" is not appropriate in this context. Example: "The article provides a definition of how to effectively manage a team."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"Work is a definition on how you spend your time.

The New York Times - Style

Compared to the vector magnitude, which is proposed in [ 6] as the maximum minus the minimum signal at the J point, the KPD includes a definition on how to identify the time point of evaluation.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

When deciding whether to allow Hepatitis C patients access to drugs that have a cure rate of over 90percentt, insurance companies decide on care based on a definition of how scarred and damaged one's liver must be in order to gain access these miracle drugs.

Huffington Post

Despite the existence of numerous algorithms, the computational identification of IDPs still represents a major challenge, mainly because of the absence of a proper consensus definition on how to identify an IDP [ 3, 29– 33].

BMC Genomics

What we derive from a definition depends on how we interpret it, on what we read into it in the first place; and there are all kinds of interpretations of the same definition, so no basis of unanimity should be expected simply by beginning with a definition, no matter how simple and unproblematic.

SEP

Further, there is no clear definition on how to use weight gain as a prognostic marker (i.e. how much gain is enough).

Global Health Action

However, while the DVB-RCS and RCS2 [8, 11] standards specify different resource reservation classes, there is no definition on how they have to be implemented or treated inside the satellite system or the priority they receive, nor address other end-to-end networking issues.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The medical education literature has developed greatly over the last three decades in the area of professionalism, including the challenges of the definition, on how to inspire students on the topic, and different methods of delivery of teaching and evaluation.

BMC Medical Education

Over the phone later, Fox told me that it's a "matter of definition," depending on how you view the data at hand.

Vice

A definition? How about winners?

The Guardian - Sport

The strength of this definition depends on how the 'processed' image is defined.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using "a definition on how", opt for "a definition of how" or "an explanation of how" for better grammatical correctness. Consider rephrasing to improve clarity and adhere to standard English.

Common error

Avoid using "on" after "definition" when describing a process. Use "of" instead to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity. For example, use "a definition of how to" instead of "a definition on how to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a definition on how" attempts to provide a noun phrase that introduces or specifies a method or process. According to Ludwig, this construction is not considered grammatically correct, standard English prefers "a definition of how".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a definition on how" is grammatically questionable, with standard English preferring the construction "a definition of how". Ludwig AI indicates this usage is incorrect. Although some sources use it, its frequency is low and clarity can be improved by using more conventional alternatives. When writing, aim for precision and clarity by choosing "a definition of how" or "an explanation of how" to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a description of how

Focuses on providing a detailed account rather than a formal definition.

an explanation of how

Emphasizes clarifying the process or method.

a guide to how

Suggests offering instructions or advice on a process.

instructions on how

Specifically indicates providing step-by-step guidance.

a method for how

Suggests exploring a particular approach for a specific result.

a strategy for how

Indicates a plan or set of actions to achieve a particular result.

a procedure for how

Emphasizes a standardized series of actions.

a system for how

Implies a structured framework or set of components.

a breakdown of how

Suggests a detailed analysis of the steps involved.

an outline of how

Focuses on a general overview of the process or method.

FAQs

What is a grammatically correct alternative to "a definition on how"?

The grammatically correct alternatives are "a definition of how" or "an explanation of how". These options correctly link the definition to the process being described.

How can I use "a definition of how" in a sentence?

You can use it as in, "The manual provides "a definition of how" the system operates".

What's the difference between "a definition of how" and "an explanation of how"?

"A definition of how" implies a formal specification, while "an explanation of how" suggests a more descriptive and clarifying account.

Is "a definition on how" ever acceptable?

While sometimes used, "a definition on how" does not follow standard English grammar. It's better to use "a definition of how" for clarity and correctness.