Keep Me Posted On vs. Keep Me Posted About – Which is Correct?
Both “keep me posted on” and “keep me posted about” are grammatically correct. Use “on” for a specific subject, project, or status, and “about” for news, developments, or matters more generally. In everyday English, they are often interchangeable, but do not usually need both prepositions together in one sentence alone.
Keep Me Posted on or Keep Me Posted About—which Is Correct?
Both “keep me posted on” and “keep me posted about” are correct American English expressions. They mean “continue to give me updates concerning something.” The difference is a matter of emphasis and natural phrasing rather than grammar.
Keep me posted on is especially common when referring to a specific project, situation, task, decision, or ongoing status. Keep me posted about often introduces news, developments, events, or a broader matter. However, native speakers frequently use the two prepositions interchangeably.
The combined wording “keep me posted on or about” is usually unnecessary. Choose one preposition based on the sentence. For example, write “Keep me posted on the project” or “Keep me posted about the project,” not normally “Keep me posted on or about the project.”
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the specific-status test: if you are asking for updates about the progress or condition of a particular thing, choose on. If you are asking for news or information concerning a matter in general, choose about.
For example, “Keep me posted on the application” focuses on the application’s status. “Keep me posted about the conference” focuses on news or developments related to the conference. When both sound natural, on is often slightly more businesslike, while about can sound a little more conversational.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| on | Preposition | Concerning a specific subject, status, or activity | Keep me posted on the hiring decision. |
| about | Preposition | Concerning a matter, event, or development | Keep me posted about any schedule changes. |
How to Use “On” in “Keep Me Posted On”
Use “keep me posted on” when requesting continuing updates about a particular subject or its progress. This construction is common in professional emails, project management, customer service, and workplace conversations. It is polite and moderately informal, making it suitable for most business communication.
The phrase normally takes a noun or noun phrase after on. Common objects include “the project,” “the situation,” “your progress,” “the results,” “the application,” and “any changes.” The phrase can also introduce a broader topic when the speaker views it as a defined area of interest.
Example 1: Please keep me posted on the delivery schedule.
Example 2: Keep me posted on how the negotiations are progressing.
Example 3: I would appreciate it if you kept me posted on any changes to the contract.
Etymology of the Word “On”
On comes from Old English on and has related forms in several Germanic languages. It originally expressed position or contact, as in something being located on a surface. Over time, its meaning expanded to include connection, subject matter, dependence, and topics of discussion, which explains its use in “posted on the issue.”
How to Use “About” in “Keep Me Posted About”
Use “keep me posted about” when asking to receive information concerning a matter, event, development, or possible change. It is fully grammatical and often sounds natural in everyday speech. It can be used in professional settings too, although some writers prefer on in formal status updates.
About can introduce both a specific subject and a general area of concern. It is particularly natural with words such as “news,” “developments,” “events,” “changes,” “plans,” and “concerns.” In many sentences, replacing about with on does not change the essential meaning.
Example 1: Keep me posted about the company’s plans for expansion.
Example 2: Please keep me posted about any news from the doctor.
Example 3: Can you keep me posted about changes to the meeting time?
Etymology of the Word “About”
About developed from Old English expressions meaning “around” or “on all sides.” Its sense gradually broadened from physical surrounding to indicate approximation, movement, and subject matter. The meaning “concerning” developed from the idea of something being connected with or surrounding a topic.
Related Concepts
Understanding prepositions and the idiom “keep someone posted” makes it easier to choose between on and about.
- Prepositions: Prepositions connect a noun or noun phrase to another part of a sentence. In these expressions, both “on” and “about” introduce the subject of the requested updates.
- Keep someone posted: This idiom means to provide someone with regular or continuing information. It does not mean physically posting something.
- Specific and general reference: “On” may emphasize the status of a defined matter, while “about” may emphasize information concerning a topic or development.
- “On or about” as a separate expression: Outside this idiom, “on or about” can mean “on or approximately around,” especially when referring to a date in legal or formal writing, as in “on or about August 10.”
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples reflect the kinds of wording commonly found in workplace communication, news reporting, public announcements, and fictional dialogue.
- Workplace communication: “Please keep me posted on the results of the product testing.” This emphasizes the status of a specific process.
- News reporting: “Officials promised to keep residents posted about developments in the investigation.” This focuses on new information as it becomes available.
- Fictional dialogue: “Keep me posted on your journey, and send word when you reach the next town.” Here, “on” introduces an ongoing personal experience.
- Public announcements: “Passengers will be kept posted about delays and schedule changes.” “About” naturally introduces several types of information.
- Professional correspondence: “I’ll keep you posted on the negotiations.” This is a concise and conventional business update.
On Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| concerning | Regarding a particular subject or matter |
| regarding | With reference to a specific topic |
| in relation to | Connected with or relevant to something |
| with respect to | Regarding a subject, often in formal writing |
About Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| regarding | Concerning a particular issue or topic |
| concerning | About or connected with a matter |
| in connection with | Related to a specific event or subject |
| with regard to | About a subject, especially in formal language |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “keep me posted on” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Keep me posted on” is grammatically correct and widely used, especially when referring to the progress or status of a specific project, situation, or decision.
Question 2: Is it correct to say “keep me posted about”?
Yes. “Keep me posted about” is also correct. It is often used when requesting news or developments concerning a topic, event, or matter.
Question 3: Should I say “keep me posted on or about”?
Usually, no. Choose either “on” or “about.” Use “keep me posted on the project” for a specific status update or “keep me posted about the project” for information about the project generally.
Question 4: Which sounds more professional: “on” or “about”?
Both are professional enough for ordinary workplace communication. “Keep me posted on” may sound slightly more concise and status-focused, while “keep me posted about” can sound more conversational and information-focused.
Question 5: What is a more formal alternative to “keep me posted”?
You can write “Please keep me informed,” “Please provide updates regarding,” or “I would appreciate regular updates on.” These alternatives may be preferable in highly formal correspondence.
Conclusion
Both “keep me posted on” and “keep me posted about” are correct. Choose on when emphasizing the status or progress of a specific subject, and choose about when emphasizing news or developments concerning a matter. In most everyday contexts, either option works. Pro Tip: In professional writing, use the shorter, more specific wording that makes your request immediately clear; precise language strengthens your credibility.
