hint on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hint on" is not correct in written English.
It should be "hint at." For example, "She hinted at a surprise without giving away any details."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Any hint on the target?

The New Yorker

He gives me a handy hint on hallucinogenics.

The Guardian - Film

We give some hint on how the 3D cases can be investigated.

Journal of Computational Science

Question: May I have a hint on Problem 1? Answer: Yes you may.

Stanford University

There was a very veiled hint on Tuesday, however, that the talks were not going well.

The New York Times

Or they offer a helpful hint on how to guarantee arrest: demand a badge number.

The New York Times

Question: How about a hint on Problem 3? Answer: Look at the grammar of Fig. 5.1, which generates palindromes only.

Stanford University

Our candidates put a first reliable hint on the AGN photoionization rate at the epoch of reionization.

Harvard University

Link hint: On the home page, type the inquiry in the search box on the top right corner.

Columbia University

Pedro's owner was kind enough to post a hint on his post, for those of us who are really struggling.

Independent

The slightest hint on his part that he knew how funny he was would have completely ruined it all.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While commonly used, consider using "hint at" instead of "hint on" for grammatically correct writing. For example, "The article hints at potential problems" is more appropriate than "The article hints on potential problems."

Common error

Avoid using "on" after "hint." The correct preposition to use with "hint" when implying an indirect suggestion is "at."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hint on" functions as a prepositional phrase, often used to introduce the topic or subject that is being indirectly suggested or alluded to. While common, Ludwig AI indicates it's grammatically incorrect, suggesting "hint at" instead.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "hint on" appears frequently in various sources, including news, science, and academic texts, it's considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests that the correct phrasing is "hint at". The phrase functions to introduce a topic indirectly. It's advisable to use "hint at" or rephrase your sentences for greater grammatical accuracy, especially in formal writing. When aiming for clarity and precision, consider alternatives like "clue about" or "suggestion regarding" to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clue about

Focuses on providing an indication or piece of information.

suggestion regarding

Emphasizes offering a recommendation or piece of advice.

tip concerning

Highlights providing practical advice or a helpful pointer.

lead regarding

Implies providing an initial piece of information to guide further investigation.

indication about

Focuses on pointing to something without explicitly stating it.

intimation of

Suggests a subtle and indirect communication.

sign relating to

Implies an observable event or condition that indicates something else.

inkling concerning

Focuses on having a vague idea or suspicion.

allusion to

Implies making an indirect reference to something.

foreshadowing of

Suggests a warning or indication of a future event.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "hint on"?

No, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "hint at".

What's the difference between "hint on" and "hint at"?

While "hint on" is commonly used, it's not grammatically correct. "Hint at" is the standard and accepted phrasing when suggesting something indirectly.

What can I say instead of "hint on" to sound more professional?

Use "hint at" or rephrase your sentence to use words like "suggest", "imply", or "allude to".

How can I remember to use "hint at" instead of "hint on"?

Think of "at" as indicating direction – the hint is directed at a particular idea or suggestion, rather than being on it.