come on board

USAGE SUMMARY

"come on board" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an expression used to describe someone joining a group and typically used when trying to encourage someone to join them. For example, "We could really use your help - come on board and join the team!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Some health insurers have come on board as well.

The New York Times - Health

Politicians have slowly come on board.

The New York Times

Come on board, they say.

The Guardian - Travel

If some new people want to come on board, great.

The New York Times

So why hasn't the insurance industry come on board?

The New York Times

Those people are starting to come on board.

The New York Times

A few new people have come on board.

The New Yorker

Since then many more big businesses have come on board.

The Guardian - Opinion

Three days later, he agreed to come on board.

The Guardian

Mr. Blumenstein expects other airlines to come on board quickly.

The New York Times

In San Francisco Nilson happened to come on board.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, consider alternatives such as "join the team" or "become a member" for a more professional tone.

Common error

While "come on board" is a useful phrase, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "join us", "participate", or "get involved" to maintain reader interest.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come on board" functions as a phrasal verb, acting as an invitation or encouragement for someone to join a group, project, or organization. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which confirms its correct and usable status. The examples provided by Ludwig show diverse applications of the phrase in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "come on board" is a versatile and commonly used phrasal verb that invites or encourages participation in a group, project, or organization. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and appropriate for various contexts, though it leans towards a neutral to informal register. While acceptable for general communication, more formal alternatives may be preferred in professional or academic settings. Its prevalence in News & Media, as highlighted by Ludwig, demonstrates its widespread usage in contemporary English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Get on board with

Adds a slightly more casual tone while maintaining the core meaning.

Join the team

A direct and informal way to invite someone to participate.

Become a member

Suggests a more formal and structured association.

Get involved

Emphasizes active participation and contribution.

Sign up

Implies a formal registration process.

Enlist

Suggests a commitment to a cause or organization, sometimes with a sense of duty.

Participate

A general term for taking part in an activity or project.

Affiliate with

Indicates a formal association or partnership.

Collaborate

Highlights working together towards a common goal.

Lend a hand

An informal way to offer help or assistance.

FAQs

What does "come on board" mean?

The phrase "come on board" means to join a team, organization, or project. It's often used as an invitation or encouragement for someone to participate.

What can I say instead of "come on board"?

You can use alternatives like "join the team", "get involved", or "participate" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "come on board" in formal writing?

While "come on board" is widely understood, it can be considered less formal. In formal writing, consider using phrases like "join the organization" or "become a member".

How to use "come on board" in a sentence?

You can use "come on board" to invite someone to join a project, for example, "We'd love for you to come on board and help us with the marketing campaign".