gather on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gather on" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly; the correct phrase would be "gather around" or "gather at." Example: "Let's gather around the campfire to share stories."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Dark clouds gather on sea and land.

The New Yorker

Birds gather on an electric cable to chirp, like opera singers gossiping before curtain call.

The New York Times

They were thrilled to gather on Saturday morning and perform seven pieces for the CD.

Huffington Post

Human food causes plaque and tartar to gather on teeth, leading to periodontal disease.

WikiHow

Men with creased faces gather on one side.

The New York Times

Midway, they gather on one side of the stage, drop their arms and gasp.

The New York Times - Arts

Nowadays, millions of people hop on a boat or gather on shore just to see one.

Huffington Post

Members now gather on a Thursday.

The New York Times

They determined to gather on a regular basis.

The Economist

California sea lions commonly gather on man-made structures.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They gather on the building's communal playground for play dates.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a location, use "gather at" or "gather in". For example, "The team will gather at the conference room" or "The family will gather in the living room".

Common error

Avoid using "gather on" to describe locations. This phrasing is grammatically unconventional. Opt for "gather at" or "gather in" to maintain clarity and correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gather on" functions primarily as a verb phrase indicating the action of assembling or coming together at a specific location or surface. However, Ludwig AI suggests that this usage is not considered correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "gather on" appears frequently in various sources, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect. Standard English usage prefers alternatives like "gather at" or "gather around" to specify locations or the act of forming a group. While "gather on" might be found in informal contexts, it's advisable to use more grammatically accepted options for clarity and correctness. Always consider the context to choose the most appropriate preposition or phrasing when describing an assembly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gather around

Emphasizes the act of forming a circle or group around something or someone.

assemble at

Replaces "gather" with "assemble" and uses "at" to specify a location.

meet at

Uses "meet" as a synonym for "gather" and "at" to indicate a meeting point.

congregate at

Substitutes "gather" with "congregate", implying a more formal or organized gathering at a specific location.

converge at

Suggests different entities or people moving from various directions to meet at a point.

collect at

Suggests that people or objects accumulate at a certain place.

flock to

Implies a large number of people moving to a particular place.

group together at

Highlights the action of forming a group in a specified location.

muster at

Conveys a sense of assembling people, often for a specific purpose, like a military formation, using "at" for the location.

rendezvous at

Indicates a pre-arranged meeting at a particular place.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "gather" with a preposition?

Use "gather at" to specify a location, such as "They will "gather at" the stadium". Use "gather around" when forming a group around something, like "Gather around the campfire".

What's the difference between "gather at" and "gather in"?

"Gather at" is used for specific points or locations, while "gather in" is used for enclosed spaces or areas. For instance, ""gather at" the park entrance" versus "gather in the auditorium".

Is "gather on" ever correct?

While uncommon, "gather on" might be used in specific, non-standard contexts. However, it's generally safer and more grammatically sound to use alternatives like ""gather at"" or "gather around".

What are some alternatives to "gather" that I can use?

Depending on the context, you can use words like "assemble", "meet", "congregate", or "convene".