born on

USAGE SUMMARY

"born on" is correct and is commonly used in written English.
You can use it in a sentence when referring to someone's date of birth. For example: He was born on June 5th, 1992.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Born on Feb.

The New York Times

— born on the island.

The New York Times

Charles Eliot Silberman was born on Jan.

The New York Times

Born on December 19 , 1938

The New York Times

"My brother was born on Mar.

The New York Times

She was born on November 4, 1947.

The New York Times

Born on a newsstand in Ninth Avenue.

The New Yorker

Christina was born on Sept. 11, 2001.

The New York Times

I was born on June 16 , 1938

The New Yorker

My daughter was born on Oct. 10.

The New York Times

(His French father was born on Mauritius).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When specifying a date with "born on", always include the month and day. Optionally, include the year for clarity. For example, use "born on July 4" or "born on July 4, 1776".

Common error

While it's grammatically correct to say someone was "born on" a specific day and month, omitting the year can lead to ambiguity. Include the year for clarity, especially in formal contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "born on" functions as a prepositional phrase specifying the exact date someone was born. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use in various contexts. Examples show it preceding a specific date, providing precise information about a birth.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

22%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "born on" is a grammatically correct and very common way to specify someone's date of birth. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use. It is appropriate for various registers, from neutral news reports to informal biographical descriptions. While it's versatile, remember to include the month and day for clarity, and the year when greater precision is needed. As "was born on" is more natural, it might be better to replace it with /s/was+born+on, as the semantic equivalence is very high.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

date of birth

Refers directly to the specific calendar date when someone was born, rather than the act of being born on that date.

place of birth

Highlights the location where someone was born, not the date.

was born in

Focuses on the location of birth, omitting the specific date.

came into existence on

A more formal and less common way to say "born on", applicable to events or entities beyond just people.

first came into the world on

Emphasizes the entry into life, adding a touch of sentimentality.

entered the world on

Similar to "first came into the world on", but without the 'first'.

originated on

Used to indicate the starting point or beginning of something, not necessarily a birth.

made their debut on

Describes the first appearance or introduction of something, not a birth.

first appeared on

Similar to "made their debut on", but more general.

started on

Describes the beginning of something; less specific to birth.

FAQs

How do I properly use "born on" in a sentence?

The phrase "born on" is used to specify the date of birth. For example, "She was born on March 15, 1990".

What's the difference between "born on" and "born in"?

"Born on" specifies the date of birth, while "born in" indicates the location or year of birth. For instance, "He was born on January 1, 2000" versus "He was born in New York" or "He was born in 2000".

Which is correct, "born on" or "was born on"?

Both "born on" and "was born on" are grammatically correct, but "was born on" is more common and natural in most sentences. For instance: "He "was born on" July 4th."

Are there alternatives to using "born on" when describing someone's birthdate?

Yes, you can use phrases like "date of birth", or simply state "He was born in" followed by the location or year, depending on the context. For instance, instead of "He was born on July 4th" you could say "His "date of birth" is July 4th."