gain on

USAGE SUMMARY

"Gain on" is not a part of a sentence in English. It is two separate words, "gain" and "on". "Gain" is a verb meaning to obtain or acquire something and "on" is a preposition used in various ways. For example, you could say: "I will gain on my goal to lose weight this week by cutting out sugar."

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"You give from one hand to gain on the other".

The New Yorker

The dogs, however, quickly gain on it.

The New York Times - Food

Let her know what's gain' on.

The New York Times

Archives|Banks Gain On Wall St. Banks Gain On Wall St.

The New York Times

SAP also stands to gain on the e-business front.

The New York Times

You'd think he'd be able to gain on them there.

The New Yorker

But competitors are trying to gain on I.B.M.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Gain-on-sale treatment.

The New York Times

"When you're running a gain-on-sale shop, it's based on volume," he said.

The New York Times

Gain-on-sale accounting has been relegated to the dustbin of finance.

The New York Times

But Green Tree's profits were a mirage, made possible because of gain-on-sale accounting.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "gain on", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being gained and what the point of reference is. For example, "The company is gaining on its competitors in market share" is more precise than simply, "The company is gaining on".

Common error

Avoid using "gain on" when "gain" alone is sufficient. For instance, instead of saying "They hope to gain on experience", say "They hope to gain experience".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gain on" primarily functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action of closing a gap or making progress relative to something else. It suggests a dynamic process where one entity is catching up to or surpassing another. Ludwig provides numerous examples in which this phrase is used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Academia

27%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Science

7%

Reference

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while Ludwig AI questions the grammatical status of the phrase, "gain on" functions as a verb phrase indicating progress towards a target. It is commonly used in a variety of contexts, especially News & Media, Academic and Formal & Business settings. When using "gain on", make sure to clarify what is being gained and provide a clear point of reference. Remember, "gain" alone may be sufficient in some cases, and alternatives like "make progress on" or "improve upon" can offer greater precision. The phrase is deemed acceptable due to its high frequency in reliable sources, though careful consideration of its contextual appropriateness is recommended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make progress on

Focuses on the act of making headway or advancement on something.

move ahead

Emphasizes the act of progressing or advancing forward.

improve upon

Highlights the aspect of enhancing or refining something that already exists.

build on

Suggests using something as a foundation to create further progress.

advance on

Implies moving forward or making gains in a specific direction.

leverage

Using something to maximize an advantage or outcome.

capitalize on

Emphasizes taking advantage of an opportunity or situation.

get ahead of

Focuses on surpassing or outperforming others.

benefit from

Stresses the positive outcome or advantage derived from something.

profit from

Indicates deriving financial or material gain from something.

FAQs

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

The phrase "gain on" can be used to indicate making progress or reducing the distance between two things. For instance, "The runner began to gain on the leader in the final lap".

What's a good alternative to "gain on"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "gain on" include "make progress on", "improve upon", or "advance on".

Is it always necessary to use "on" after "gain"?

No, it's not always necessary. The inclusion of "on" depends on the intended meaning. "Gain" alone can mean to acquire or obtain something, while "gain on" often implies reducing a gap or making progress relative to something else.

What is the difference between "gain" and "gain on"?

"Gain" generally means to acquire or increase, whereas "gain on" suggests catching up or reducing the lead of someone or something. For example, "The company gained profits" versus "The company gained on its competitors".