exert on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exert on" is not correct and cannot be used in standard written English.
To use a similar phrase that means the same thing as “exert on”, you could use the phrase "exert over". For example, you could say, "The King of the Kingdom exerted his power over the small village."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Of first concern in the problem of motion are the forces that bodies exert on one another.

Britannica

The closer two objects are, the greater the forces they exert on one another.

Forbes

Specifically, it measures the forces that particles of a body exert on one another.

Vice

How much clout can they exert on others?

The New York Times - Magazine

It's an acknowledgement of the tremendous influence people and societies exert on Earth systems.

Stanford University

What impact does that transmitted culture exert on our evolved minds?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

What pressures does this decision to reject the standard narrative exert on his work?

Cornell University

"Public opinion is already exerting all the pressure that it can exert on government," Krosnick said.

The Washington Post

But he had declined to say what other pressures, if any, Washington would exert on Zagreb.

The New York Times

How much influence nationalists will come to exert on the new protest movement is unclear.

The New York Times

Tells about the political pressure the White House tried to exert on undecided or renegade Republicans who opposed the nomination.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Replace "exert on" with grammatically correct alternatives like "exert over" to ensure clarity and credibility in your writing.

Common error

Using "on" after "exert" is a common mistake. Always double-check your preposition choice and opt for "over" or other suitable alternatives to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exert on" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically following a verb to indicate the direction of force, pressure, or influence. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it is not grammatically correct and should be replaced with a more suitable alternative.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "exert on" appears frequently across various sources, including news, science, and academic texts, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. To ensure clarity and correctness, it's best to replace "exert on" with alternatives like "exert over" or "bring to bear on". Using the proper preposition enhances the credibility and precision of your writing, especially in formal contexts. By avoiding this common error, you improve the overall quality and impact of your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exert over

Replaces 'on' with 'over' to indicate control or influence.

wield on

Suggests a controlled application of force or influence.

exercise on

Implies the application of a skill or power.

apply to

Indicates the direction of force or influence toward something.

bring to bear on

Conveys the idea of focusing influence or pressure on a target.

bring to bear upon

Is similar to "bring to bear on" but a bit more formal.

put on

Suggests applying or imposing something.

impose on

Suggests forcing something to be accepted or put in place.

work on

Implies using influence to change or affect something.

press on

Suggests persistence in influencing something.

FAQs

What's a more appropriate preposition to use with "exert"?

While "exert on" is common, it's not grammatically correct. "Exert over" is a better choice to indicate influence or control. For example, "The company exerted its influence over the market."

Can I use "exert on" in formal writing?

No, "exert on" is generally considered incorrect. In formal writing, it's best to use more standard phrases like "exert over" or "bring to bear on".

What are some synonyms for "exert on" that avoid grammatical errors?

You can use alternatives such as "exercise on", "wield on" or "apply to" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "exert on" and "exert upon"?

Both "exert on" and "exert upon" are generally considered incorrect. A better alternative would be to use "exert over", which correctly conveys the idea of influence or control.