subordinate on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "subordinate on" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It is likely a misuse of the term "subordinate," which typically requires a different preposition, such as "to" or "under." Example: "The assistant is subordinate to the manager in the organizational hierarchy."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

To a subordinate on his column he was "Caligula".

Independent

During his nearly 40-year career he played El Toro, a Mexican sidekick, on "The Adventures of Kit Carson"; Corporal Reyes on "Zorro"; and Crazy Cat, Chief Wild Eagle's inept subordinate, on the comedy "F Troop".

The New York Times - Arts

It will be noted that integral musical quality is subordinate on this scale, although it is specifically the musical appeal that establishes success in the first place, disseminates that success through other media, and may later lead to revival in the country of origin and to reproduction in other countries.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The respected brigadier and Medal of Honor recipient was downright dismissive when he referred to Rayburn and another guerrilla captain in a note to a subordinate on Nov. 18, 1864: "They will probably hang around and try to steal stock and cut off small parties".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

A clear example of this is the strict control of the hours worked by subordinates, on the one hand, and a relative leniency with physicians as to the same requirement, on the other hand.

Human Resources for Health

There is an apparent contradiction between density regulation by means of breeding territoriality and suppression of maturation in subordinate individuals on one hand, and the nevertheless occurring density peaks or outbreaks in the same species.

BMC Ecology

Being hard on one's self, on subordinates, and on the family might be interpreted as being related to cynicism.

BMC Health Services Research

Gen. William Rosecrans, Thomas's superior, polled his subordinates on whether the army should retreat.

The New York Times

"This is going to take a long time," an officer told his subordinates on the radio.

The Guardian

"I don't know what it is," he shouted at subordinates on his return to Seattle.

The Guardian

In convicting him in 2002, a judge said Mr. Sam Bith had ordered his subordinates on Sept. 28, 1994, to kill the foreigners.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct preposition. When indicating that something is lower in rank or importance, use "subordinate to" instead of "subordinate on".

Common error

Avoid using "on" after "subordinate". The correct preposition is "to". For example, say "The team leader is subordinate to the project manager", not "The team leader is subordinate on the project manager".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "subordinate on" is typically intended to indicate a hierarchical relationship, where one entity is lower in rank or importance than another. However, according to Ludwig AI, this is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "subordinate on" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct preposition to use in such contexts is "to", as in "subordinate to". According to Ludwig AI, this error should be avoided. While examples exist in various sources like news articles and encyclopedias, the use of "subordinate on" is infrequent and should be replaced with ""subordinate to"" or other suitable alternatives for clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

subordinate to

This is the most grammatically correct and common way to indicate that someone or something is lower in rank or importance.

lower in the hierarchy than

This is a more descriptive way to express the hierarchical relationship.

under the authority of

This phrase emphasizes the hierarchical structure and the power dynamic involved.

dependent on

This option highlights reliance or contingency, shifting away from direct hierarchical meaning.

reporting to

Focuses on the reporting structure within an organization.

subject to

Indicates being under the control or influence of someone or something.

secondary to

Highlights that something is less important than something else.

controlled by

Emphasizes the aspect of being managed or directed by a higher authority.

answerable to

Highlights the responsibility and accountability aspect of the relationship.

junior to

A direct and simple way to express a lower rank or status.

FAQs

How to correctly use "subordinate" in a sentence?

The word "subordinate" typically requires the preposition "to" to indicate a hierarchical relationship, as in "The employee is "subordinate to" the manager".

What is a common mistake when using the word "subordinate"?

A frequent error is using the preposition "on" instead of "to" after "subordinate". Remember, the correct usage is "subordinate to", not "subordinate on".

Which phrase is grammatically correct: "subordinate on" or "subordinate to"?

"Subordinate to" is the grammatically correct phrase. "Subordinate on" is considered incorrect in standard English.

Are there alternatives to using the phrase "subordinate to"?

Yes, depending on the context, you could use phrases like "dependent on" or "under the authority of" to convey a similar meaning.