attending on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "attending on" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to describe the action of tending to someone in a particular way, such as providing them with assistance or service. For example: The nurse was attending on the patient, providing comfort and medical assistance.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Variability across individual facilities was larger, with only 14% of patients attending on time in one facility and 20% attending within 3 days in another facility.

BMC Health Services Research

The school had to split attendance in 1959, with the younger children attending on Saturday and the older ones on Sunday, and by 1961, 780 children were enrolled.

Wikipedia

Of 263 followed up, the average attendances was 25, with 19.3% attending on fewer than 4 occasions and 14.3% attending 52 or more times.

Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport

While attending on a political genius, the devoted attendant was nourishing a small writing genius within himself.

The Guardian - Books

He gave three reasons for not attending on 21 November.

The Guardian

Visitors attending on Friday may be well advised to channel their inner schoolboy.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

Guests attending on-campus events can connect to the "Harvard Guest" network for no charge.

Harvard University

MSN students also have an option of attending on-campus or online/virtual orientation.

Duke University

At one large tech company, I was the only person of color among 20 students attending on-site interviews.

TechCrunch

At one large tech company, I was the only person of color among 20 students attending on-site interviews.

TechCrunch

Researchers attending on-site outreach workshops fill out evaluations of the quality and usefulness of the visit.

Database : the journal of biological databases and curation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "attending on" when you specifically mean being present and providing a service or tending to someone or something. For general presence, consider alternatives like "attending" or "present at".

Common error

Avoid using "attending on" when you simply mean being present at an event without providing any specific assistance. Using just "attending" is more appropriate in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attending on" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb, typically indicating the action of being present and providing service or care. Ludwig confirms its correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "attending on" is a grammatically correct and commonly used prepositional phrase that indicates being present and providing service or care. According to Ludwig, this phrase is well-accepted in written English. Its usage spans across various contexts, including news, academia, and scientific publications. When using the phrase, it's crucial to consider the nuance of service or duty implied, as it's not merely about being present but about the active role one plays. While various alternatives exist, such as "assisting" or "serving", "attending on" retains its unique connotation of tending to someone or something with a sense of responsibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Attending to

Focuses on giving attention to someone or something.

Present at

Focuses on physical presence at an event or location rather than the act of serving or taking care of something.

In attendance at

Emphasizes being officially recorded or noted as being present.

Looking after

Highlights the aspect of caring for or managing something or someone.

Taking care of

Similar to 'looking after', but can also refer to handling administrative tasks.

Serving

Emphasizes the act of providing a service or assistance.

Assisting

Focuses on aiding or helping, typically in a supportive role.

Ministering to

Implies a more compassionate and attentive form of service.

Waiting on

Often used in the context of serving someone food or drinks.

Catering to

Implies a specific and tailored provision of services or goods.

FAQs

How can I use "attending on" in a sentence?

You can use "attending on" to describe someone providing service or care, as in "The nurse was attending on the patient." It can also describe being present in a specific capacity, like "He was attending on the committee as a consultant."

What's the difference between "attending on" and "attending to"?

"Attending on" often implies a sense of service or duty, while "attending to" suggests giving attention or dealing with something. For example, you attend on a patient, but attend to a task.

What are some alternatives to "attending on"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "assisting", "serving", or "looking after". For simple presence, just use "attending" or "present at".

Is "attending on" formal or informal?

"Attending on" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, depending on the setting. However, alternatives like "assisting" or "serving" might be more appropriate for formal situations.