bear on

USAGE SUMMARY

'bear on' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express relevance or influence on a particular situation or subject. Example sentence: The results of the survey bear on the potential need for further research.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Our findings bear on chemotherapeutic strategies.

Genetics

Roll out that bear, on the double!

The New York Times

He was a bear on indirection.

The New Yorker

Two experiments bear on this puzzling issue.

The New York Times

Joss Naylor or Bear on Board?

The Guardian - Sport

Many factors bear on the selection of a controller.

Embedded Systems Design using the Rabbit 3000 Microprocessor Interfacing, Networking and Application Development

Changes in geometry can bear on reliability problems.

Microelectronics Reliability

How, for instance, does the following bear on his work?

The New Yorker

More effective versions are being brought to bear on melanoma.

The Economist

You bring that to bear on all the issues".

The New York Times

She brings that acuity to bear on Ms. Fonda's story.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bear on" when you want to emphasize the relevance or influence of something on a particular issue or decision. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is being affected.

Common error

Avoid using "bear on" when you want to express direct causation. "Bear on" implies influence or relevance, not necessarily a direct cause-and-effect relationship. Use stronger verbs like "cause", "create", or "determine" for direct causation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bear on" functions as a phrasal verb indicating that something is relevant to or has an influence on something else. It suggests a connection or impact, as seen in Ludwig's examples. The Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

39%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "bear on" is a versatile and commonly used phrase that serves to indicate relevance or influence. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is prevalent in both scientific and news contexts, as well as academic writing, and holds a neutral to formal register. To enhance clarity in your writing, use "bear on" when you intend to emphasize the connection between different elements, but be mindful of contexts where direct causation needs to be expressed with a more direct word. Replace it with synonyms such as "affect", "influence", or "have an impact on" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have a bearing on

A more formal way of saying "bear on" with nearly identical meaning.

affect

This single word captures the sense of having an impact or influence.

influence

Directly indicates the power to have an effect on something.

have an impact on

Emphasizes the effect or consequence of something.

pertain to

Highlights the relevance or connection to a specific subject.

relate to

Indicates a connection or association between two things.

touch upon

Suggests a brief mention or consideration of a topic.

be relevant to

Directly states the importance or applicability to a particular situation.

connect with

Suggests a linkage or relationship.

impinge on

Implies a more forceful or intrusive effect.

FAQs

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

You can use "bear on" to indicate that something has an influence or relevance to a particular situation. For example: "The results of the survey "bear on" the potential need for further research."

What's a more formal alternative to "bear on"?

A more formal alternative to "bear on" is "have a bearing on". Both phrases indicate relevance or influence, but "have a bearing on" is often used in more formal contexts.

What can I say instead of "bear on" to indicate a direct impact?

If you want to indicate a direct impact rather than just influence, you could use verbs like "affect", "influence", or "have an impact on".

In what contexts is "bear on" most appropriate?

"Bear on" is appropriate in academic, scientific, and professional contexts when discussing the relevance or influence of certain factors or findings. It's suitable when the relationship isn't necessarily causal but still pertinent.