on sail

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on sail" is not correct in written English.
It is possible that the intended phrase was "on sale," which means that an item is available for purchase at a reduced price or a discount. Example: "The store has put all of its summer items on sale, so I bought a new swimsuit at a great price."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

To the Shores of Need Past the Reefs of Greed Through the Squalls of Hate Sail on, sail on, sail on, sail on.

Huffington Post

It is thanks to Prince Henry that the Portuguese explorers were under orders to "sail on, sail on".

Huffington Post

From the wells of disappointment where the women kneel to pray for the grace of God in the desert here and the desert far away: Democracy is coming to the U.S.A. Sail on, sail on O mighty Ship of State!

Huffington Post

It's coming like the tidal flood beneath the lunar sway, imperial, mysterious, in amorous array: Democracy is coming to the U.S.A. Sail on, sail on... I'm sentimental, if you know what I mean I love the country but I can't stand the scene.

Huffington Post

To better understand how it works, cruise ships are mostly planned before going on sail.

WikiHow

To confirm that the activity observed against the AML cell lines was dependent on SAIL expression, knockdown experiments utilizing SAIL-specific short hairpin RNA constructs were performed in OCI-AML3 cells.

Blood Cancer Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Private lesson: one-on-one sailing on a Hobie Cat, $50 an hour.

The New York Times

Soon she was filling the highly competitive slots on sail-training vessels.

The New York Times

Mr. Stowe went on sailing alone.

The New York Times

King wrote two volumes of autobiography and books on sailing.

The Guardian

By Rebecca Mead July 27 , 2012Rebecca Mead on sailing in Weymouth.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a ship's movement, consider using "under sail" or "by sail" to correctly indicate the use of sails for propulsion. For continuing a voyage, use the phrasal verb "sailing on".

Common error

Avoid using "on sail" when you mean "under sail" or "by sail". "On sail" is rarely grammatically correct and may confuse your readers. "Under sail" properly describes that a ship is moved or powered by its sails.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on sail" functions as a prepositional phrase, but its grammatical correctness is questionable in modern English. Ludwig AI flags it as potentially incorrect. When encountered, it often appears in contexts where "under sail" or "by sail" would be more appropriate.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "on sail" is an uncommon and often incorrect expression in contemporary English. Ludwig AI identifies it as such, suggesting it might stem from a misunderstanding or misuse of similar nautical terms. More grammatically sound alternatives include "under sail" or "by sail" when describing a vessel propelled by its sails. While it appears in diverse contexts—primarily news, wiki, and scientific sources—its validity remains questionable. Therefore, writers should exercise caution and opt for more standard expressions to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy. Stick to using more conventional and clearer alternatives to avoid confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

under sail

Indicates that a vessel is powered by its sails; this alternative specifies the means of propulsion.

by sail

Similar to 'under sail', emphasizes the use of sails as the primary mode of propulsion.

sailing on

Expresses the action of continuing a voyage, focusing on the forward movement.

at sea

Refers to being on a voyage or out in the ocean, broadly indicating a state of travel by sea.

out to sea

Similar to 'at sea' but emphasizes the direction of travel away from land.

dependant on sails

Highlights the reliance on wind power, specifying that the vessel's movement is contingent on the sails.

powered by sail

Indicates that the vessel uses sail as its source of power; this emphasizes the method of propulsion.

voyaging

Highlights the act of undertaking a sea journey or voyage.

navigate

This relates to actively maneuver the vessel.

maritime

Related to navigation or commerce at sea.

FAQs

How can I correctly refer to a vessel propelled by sails?

Use the phrases "under sail" or "by sail" to accurately describe a vessel being propelled by sails. For example, "The ship was "under sail" as it crossed the Atlantic".

What's the difference between saying "on sail" and "sailing on"?

"On sail" is typically incorrect and not recognized in standard English. "Sailing on" means to continue a voyage or journey, as in "The ship is sailing on towards its destination".

When is it appropriate to use "on" with nautical terms?

Use "on" with nautical terms to indicate being aboard a vessel or referring to activities that happen on a ship. For example, "on board" or "life on a ship".

What are some alternatives to describe traveling by sea?

Consider using phrases like "at sea", "out to sea", or simply stating "traveling by ship" to describe sea travel.