reporting on duty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reporting on duty" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in contexts such as military, law enforcement, or other professional settings to indicate that someone is present and ready to perform their assigned tasks. Example: "The officer arrived at the station and announced, 'Reporting on duty, ready for assignment.'"

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The EOBR automatically records driving time and location, leaving the driver responsible only for reporting on-duty and off-duty time.

Wikipedia

She did not report on duty for three days and was not picking up her phone.

Health Policy and Planning

They left for the front about a week later, reporting for duty "on Hitler's orders" to the small, predominantly Jewish town of Końskie.

The New Yorker

Mr. Mercado's service was not voluntary: he was drafted, reporting for duty on Oct. 7, 1918, according to weathered documents his family kept.

The New York Times

Reporting for duty on his first day at Ukip's "call centre", a shop space minutes from Ramsgate's harbour, Darren Meacher explained why he has trekked from Manchester to join others working their way by phone through lists of voters as part of Nigel Farage's bid to capture the Tory-held seat of South Thanet.

The Guardian

One of the biggest World War II shooter franchises will soon be reporting for duty on your handset, as Activision and Glu Mobile has announced a partnership to develop an upcoming Call of Duty title for mobile phones.

TechCrunch

The Best Buy worker in Iowa said he's realistic about the realities of retail work, like near-minimum wage pay and reporting for duty on Black Friday.

Huffington Post

In one case, a health manager fostered a culture of flexible scheduling, i.e., all senior doctors get one day or certain afternoons to dedicate to their other activities, whether research or dual practice, in exchange for reporting to duty on other days.

Health Research Policy and Systems

Bridewell said he had to climb over fallen furniture in his own home to check on his family before reporting to duty.

Huffington Post

The players were on a day off but report for duty on Thursday.

The Guardian - Sport

It said 43% of junior doctors – out of a possible 26,000 working on a typical day – had reported for duty on the day shift.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal contexts, consider using "reporting for duty" as a more direct and widely recognized alternative to "reporting on duty".

Common error

Avoid using "reporting on duty" in casual conversation. It sounds overly formal and can be replaced with simpler phrases like "I'm here" or "I'm ready to start".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reporting on duty" functions as a gerund phrase acting as a noun, modified by the prepositional phrase "on duty". While grammatically sound, Ludwig indicates its usage is less frequent than alternatives like "reporting for duty".

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "reporting on duty" is grammatically correct but less common than its counterpart "reporting for duty". As indicated by Ludwig, it is most appropriate in formal, professional settings, particularly those with a hierarchical structure like the military or law enforcement. When writing, consider the context and audience to determine if a more direct or widely recognized phrase would be more effective. While Ludwig confirms its usability, remember that alternatives may enhance clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reporting for duty

A more common and direct synonym indicating the start of a work period.

commencing duty

A more formal way to express the beginning of one's work shift.

assuming responsibilities

Focuses on the act of taking on the tasks and duties of a job.

starting work

A general term for beginning one's work activities.

taking up one's post

Implies a specific location or station where duty is performed.

entering service

Highlights the commencement of a period of service or employment.

being on call

Indicates availability for duty when needed, often outside of regular hours.

ready for assignment

Expresses preparedness to receive and execute assigned tasks.

available for duty

Indicates that one is accessible and prepared to perform their duties.

on active service

Emphasizes the state of currently performing one's service obligations.

FAQs

What's a more common way to say "reporting on duty"?

A more common alternative is "reporting for duty", which is widely used in professional and military contexts.

Is "reporting on duty" grammatically correct?

Yes, "reporting on duty" is grammatically correct, though it's less frequently used than "reporting for duty".

When is it appropriate to use "reporting on duty"?

It's appropriate in formal settings like military, law enforcement, or other professional contexts where indicating readiness for work is important.

What does "reporting on duty" mean?

It means presenting oneself at a designated location or to a superior to indicate readiness to begin performing assigned tasks or responsibilities.