obtain on

USAGE SUMMARY

"obtain on" is not a correct phrase in English.
You could use the phrase "obtain" or "get on." For example, you could say, "We need to obtain more supplies before we get on with the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

Perkin-Elmer officials say they expect to profit from patents that the new company might obtain on rare genes for which clear biomedical uses have been identified.

Science Magazine

The aim is to obtain on the one hand good reference tracking properties and on the other hand to properly reject sinusoidal disturbance in order to suppress vibrations.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

Points will be difficult to obtain on the road.

The New York Times - Sports

This was especially useful when a photograph or film was difficult to obtain on deadline.

The New York Times - Arts

It also has relationships with the digital publishers that give their clients access to plum placement on sites that self-published authors can't obtain on their own.

The New York Times

Though most of the mistakes were unintentional, the N.S.A. wound up collecting data it was not supposed to obtain on people who should not have been spied upon.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

The intention behind the move was clearly an attempt to obtain on-field advantage at a time when Peru is stuck in one of its worst ruts in decades.

The Guardian - Sport

The theme residence option has its naysayers, including John O'Hara, 21, a junior who said that he believes students take up the causes just to obtain on-campus housing.

The New York Times

Compare that with the United States, where retail chain stores routinely entice customers to sign up for credit cards by offering discounts on purchases for those who obtain on-the-spot credit.

The New York Times

It will be possible to obtain on-demand copies of 140 out-of-print books and to get paperbound editions with digitally printed color reproductions through Yale University Press.

The New York Times - Arts

A sliding mode state observer is used to obtain on-line estimates of this new state.

Chemical Engineering Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "obtain on" as it is not standard English. Rephrase your sentence to use "obtain" followed by the object you are trying to get, or use a more common alternative like "get on" or "acquire".

Common error

A common mistake is to add the preposition "on" after "obtain", perhaps due to confusion with similar phrasal verbs. Always use "obtain" followed directly by the object, or rephrase the sentence using a different verb that correctly uses a preposition such as "get on with".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "obtain on" functions as a verb phrase, where "obtain" is a transitive verb requiring a direct object. However, the addition of "on" makes it grammatically incorrect in most contexts. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is not correct, and thus its usage should be avoided.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

54%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "obtain on" appears in some contexts, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it's advisable to avoid using it. More appropriate alternatives include "obtain" followed directly by the object, or using phrases like "get on", "acquire", or "secure". The phrase appears most frequently in scientific and news media contexts, but its non-standard nature suggests careful consideration before using it in formal writing. Always aim for clarity and correctness in your language, opting for grammatically sound alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get on

Changes the verb from "obtain" to "get", offering a more common and grammatically sound alternative, and includes the preposition "on".

acquire

Replaces the entire phrase with a single verb suggesting the acquisition of something.

secure

Similar to "acquire", but implies a sense of effort or competition in the process of obtaining.

attain

A more formal synonym for "obtain", suggesting a higher level of achievement.

gain access to

Specifies that the action is gaining entry or permission to use something.

come by

An informal way of saying "obtain", often implying luck or chance.

procure

A formal term that focuses on the effort to obtain something, often through careful means.

receive

Implies obtaining something by being given it, rather than by one's own efforts.

find

Suggests accidentally discovering or coming across something.

glean

Implies gathering information or something bit by bit, often from various sources.

FAQs

Is "obtain on" grammatically correct?

No, "obtain on" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It is better to use "obtain" followed by the object, or use a different verb such as "get on".

What are some alternatives to "obtain on"?

Consider using "get on", "acquire", or "secure" as alternatives, depending on the context.

How can I use "obtain" correctly in a sentence?

Use "obtain" followed by the object you are trying to acquire. For example, "You must obtain a permit before construction can begin."

What is the difference between "obtain" and "get on"?

"Obtain" is a more formal verb that means to get or acquire something. "Get on" is more informal and can mean to make progress or have a good relationship. Depending on the context, both are acceptable alternatives but "obtain on" is incorrect.