on mars

USAGE SUMMARY

'on Mars' is a perfectly acceptable part of a sentence in written English.
For example, "NASA launched a new rover on Mars last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Life on mars.

Yale University

Scott's next film will be The Martian, starring Matt Damon as an astronaut marooned on mars.

Independent

Parro, V. et al. Instrument development to search for biomarkers on mars: Terrestrial acidophile, iron-powered chemolithoautotrophic communities as model systems.

Nature

whether robot airplanes fly on mars or not, for human voyages a key consideration will be the power plant that gets the explorers there.

MIT Technology Review

Euro News: Czech startup Webnode appears to have been on mars for the past few years as it is launching a Web site building tool, ignoring moves by some little-known players called Google, WordPress, Six Apart and others.

TechCrunch

The passing of Neil Armstrong this week is a reminder of the inspiration and wonder that our space program has provided in the past; the curiosity probe on mars is a reminder of what remains to be discovered.

TechCrunch

We might hope that an actual human will be standing on mars to watch this event, which we know about today in all kinds of lovely mathematical detail.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Abe and Trump have spent more than a dozen hours together one-on-one at ­Mar-a-Lago and elsewhere.

The Washington Post

Learning to live on a mars day: Fatigue countermeasures during the Phoenix Mars Lander mission.

Harvard University

The Hollywood director along with San Diego-based tech firm, Malin Space Science Systems, had plans to install special 3D zoom-lenses on the mars rover named Curiosity, but Nasa says there just wasn't enough time to test it before launch.

TechCrunch

The kids come in and they have got a packet of crisps in their hand or they are chewing on a mars bar' (GP.8) 'We talked about "five a day", this kid didn't eat five a week.

BMC Family Practice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing space exploration, use "on mars" to accurately pinpoint the location of rovers, habitats, or scientific endeavors.

Common error

Avoid using prepositions like "in" or "at" when specifically referring to being present on the surface of Mars; "on mars" is the most accurate and widely accepted prepositional phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on mars" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, modifying a noun or verb to indicate location or setting. It specifies where an action occurs or where something is located, as seen in Ludwig's examples, such as "We're safe on mars" and "Life on mars?"

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Academia

31%

Science

27%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on mars" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase widely used to denote location or activity taking place on the planet Mars. According to Ludwig, it appears most frequently in News & Media, Academia, and Science contexts, demonstrating its relevance across various domains. While grammatically straightforward, it's important to use "on" correctly to avoid preposition errors. Alternatives include "on the surface of Mars", but "on mars" remains the most common and direct way to specify location. Its prevalence and correct usage are supported by numerous authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

upon mars

Uses a more formal preposition, 'upon', to indicate location on Mars.

at mars

Uses a different preposition, 'at', to denote presence on Mars.

on the surface of mars

Specifies the location more precisely, focusing on the surface.

in the martian environment

Shifts focus to the overall environment of Mars, rather than just the location.

exploring mars

Focuses on the activity of exploring Mars, rather than just being there.

visiting mars

Implies a temporary presence on Mars, as opposed to a permanent settlement.

studying mars

Highlights the scientific investigation of Mars.

the red planet

Refers to Mars by its popular name.

martian landscape

Emphasizes the visual aspects of the Martian terrain.

in relation to mars

Addresses the subject in connection with Mars.

FAQs

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

You can use "on mars" to indicate a location, such as "The rover is currently operating "on mars"" or to discuss activities taking place there, like "Scientists are conducting experiments "on mars"".

What is an alternative to saying "on mars"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "on the surface of mars" for greater precision, or simply "the red planet" for a more general reference.

Is it correct to say "in mars" instead of "on mars"?

No, the correct preposition to use is "on". "In mars" is not grammatically correct when referring to being located on the surface of the planet. You might use "in relation to mars" when discussing something's connection to the planet.

What kind of research is being conducted "on mars"?

Research "on mars" includes looking for signs of past or present life, studying the planet's geology and atmosphere, and testing technologies for future human missions.