on television

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on television" is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that can be seen on the television, for example: "I watched my favorite show on television last night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

On television.

Forbes

I went on television.

The New York Times

Movie criticism on television?

The New York Times

On television from Indianapolis?

The New York Times - Arts

Especially on television.

The New York Times

ON TELEVISION about "Survivor".

The New Yorker

He is on television.

The New York Times - Arts

It looked grim on television.

The New York Times

He's seen it on television".

The New York Times

About weather personalities on television.

The New York Times

ON TELEVISION about "American High".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to specific television shows or channels, be sure to capitalize the names properly. For example, "I saw it on 'The Evening News'" or "It was on television, specifically Channel 4."

Common error

Avoid using "in television" unless you're referring to working within the television industry. Use "on television" when discussing content viewed through the medium.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on television" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the medium through which an action or event is experienced or presented. As seen in Ludwig's examples, it specifies where something is viewed or broadcast.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

1%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on television" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate that something is being broadcast or viewed via television. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, especially in news and media. When using this phrase, it's important to use "on" rather than "in" and to be mindful of capitalization when referring to specific shows or channels. For more informal situations, the shorter "on TV" is a suitable alternative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on TV

Shorter and more informal version of "on television".

via television

Indicates the medium through which something is presented.

through television

Similar to 'via television', specifying the means of delivery.

on the screen

Focuses on the visual aspect of the content.

appearing on TV

Focuses on the act of someone being shown on television.

being broadcast

Emphasizes the act of transmission rather than the medium itself.

broadcasted on television

Highlights both the medium and the action of broadcasting.

on air

Refers to the broadcasting of audio or video content.

on streaming services

Highlights modern digital distribution methods.

in a telecast

A more formal term for a television broadcast.

FAQs

How do you use "on television" in a sentence?

Use "on television" to describe something that is broadcast or shown via TV, such as "I watched the news "on television" last night" or "She appeared "on television" for the first time".

What's a more informal way to say "on television"?

A more informal way to say "on television" is "on TV". It's suitable for casual conversation.

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

No, it is generally not correct to say "in television" unless you are referring to a career or work within the television industry. To refer to content viewed via TV, use "on television".

What can I say instead of "on television" when referring to streaming services?

When talking about content on streaming services, consider using phrases like "on streaming services" or "available to stream", as these platforms are distinct from traditional television broadcasting.