describe on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "describe on" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It does not convey a clear meaning and is not a standard expression in English. Example: "Please describe on the topic of climate change." (This should be rephrased for clarity.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

But I would struggle to describe on one side of a sheet of paper how they spend their days, beyond peering at screens.

The Guardian - Opinion

The rules that describe, on the one hand the agreement (or the disagreement), and on the other hand the degree of convergence of the expert opinions, were predefined.

BMC Psychiatry

Leslie Del Toro, who saw the garage collapse, describe on Twitter seeing one person pulled out alive: "They pulled a guy out and his whole shoulder was cut up and out of place...When I tell you every cop and fire rescue is here I mean EVERY SINGLE ONE".

Huffington Post

While reviewing a Slipknot performance, Alistair Lawrence of Kerrang! enthused, "the choreographed chaos is too multi-faceted to fully describe," on a similar note, NME described one of their shows as "a scene of chaos".

Wikipedia

Q: Take one more minute to describe on boarding.

TechCrunch

At the same time, though, it seems as if Penn continually neglects one of the core values that I describe on my tour.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

We also describe on-going efforts to use geospatially enhanced data syndication and informally including semantic information by embedding it directly into the XHTML Document Object Model (DOM).

Computers & Geosciences

In this paper, we describe on-going work towards the implementation of controllers designed using this approach to chain conveyor systems with the eventual aim of examining/verifying performance in 'real world' applications.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

All this can be a bit like watching George Clooney lovingly describe on-set pranks a decade ago — oh, the fun you must all have, playing tricks on Julia Roberts! "Lip Sync Battle" is looser and grittier — more Spike TV — than Fallon's show, allowing for a hint of Kimmel-esque celebrities-messing-with-each-other ho-ho clubbiness.

The New Yorker

Further chapters describe on-farm and plot-level irrigation provisions to reduce agricultural drainage outputs and examine their effects on plant performance.

Springer

I will describe on-going efforts to extract structural and dynamical information from noisy, random snapshots recorded with very poor, or non-existent timing information.

Duke University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use prepositions like "in", "regarding", or "concerning" after "describe" to ensure grammatical accuracy. For example, "describe in detail" is much more appropriate than "describe on detail".

Common error

Avoid using "on" directly after "describe". This construction is grammatically incorrect and can confuse readers. Instead, opt for prepositions that clarify the relationship between the description and its subject.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "describe on" is typically intended to function as a verb phrase, aiming to convey the action of providing details about a specific subject. However, it is considered grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

22%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "describe on" appears in various contexts, including news, science, and academic sources, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, standard English prefers constructions like "describe in", "describe with respect to", or "describe regarding". Despite its relatively common usage, especially across different platforms, writers should opt for grammatically sound alternatives to maintain clarity and credibility. The frequency of its occurrence does not justify its use; adhering to correct grammatical forms enhances the overall quality of writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

describe in

Replaces 'on' with the more grammatically correct preposition 'in'.

describe regarding

Substitutes 'on' with 'regarding' for a more formal tone when specifying the subject.

describe concerning

Uses 'concerning' instead of 'on' to indicate the topic being described.

describe with respect to

Replaces 'on' with 'with respect to' for a more precise specification of the subject.

describe the details of

Adds 'the details of' to emphasize a thorough description.

elaborate on

Uses 'elaborate on' to specify the action of providing more details.

explain about

Replaces describe with explain to provide insights about

give an account of

Uses 'give an account of' to offer a detailed narrative or report.

detail

Uses detail as a verb, offering specific and expanded information

portray

Uses portray to create a representation in words

FAQs

How to use describe correctly with a preposition?

Use prepositions like "in", "regarding", or "concerning" after describe. For instance, prefer "describe in detail", "describe regarding the issue", or "describe concerning the events".

What are some alternatives to "describe on"?

Consider using phrases like "describe in", "describe regarding", or "elaborate on" to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity.

Is "describe on" grammatically correct?

No, "describe on" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use constructions like "describe in", "describe with respect to", or other appropriate prepositions to link the verb with its subject.

Which is correct, "describe in" or "describe on"?

""describe in"" is the correct and grammatically accepted form. "Describe on" should be avoided in formal writing and speech.