Listed in vs. Listed on – Which is Correct?
Both “listed in” and “listed on” are correct, but they are used with different nouns. Use “listed in” for inclusion within a publication, category, or document; use “listed on” for inclusion on a physical or digital surface, page, website, or platform. The surrounding noun determines the appropriate preposition in context naturally.
This distinction is similar to “In the List”, where context also determines the appropriate preposition.
Listed in or Listed on – Which is Correct?
Both “listed in” and “listed on” are correct phrases. The difference depends on how you view the place where something appears.
Use “listed in” when an item appears within the contents of a book, report, directory, magazine, category, or other organized collection. For example, a restaurant may be listed in a travel guide, or a name may be listed in a database.
Use “listed on” when an item appears on a physical or digital surface, page, website, platform, noticeboard, or online service. For example, a product may be listed on a website, or an event may be listed on a calendar.
There is sometimes overlap. Both “listed in the directory” and “listed on the directory” may appear in different contexts, but “listed in the directory” is generally the standard choice when referring to the directory as a collection of entries. Use “listed on the directory” only when emphasizing a specific directory page or interface.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use this simple mental image: “in” means inside a collection, while “on” means displayed on a surface. If you could say “inside the book, category, or database,” choose listed in. If you could point to a page, screen, website, or board where the item appears, choose listed on.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| listed in | Prepositional phrase | Included within a publication, category, collection, or record | The author is listed in the encyclopedia. |
| listed on | Prepositional phrase | Displayed on a page, website, platform, surface, or schedule | The apartment is listed on the property website. |
How to Use Listed in
“Listed in” is used when a person, place, product, title, or fact is included within an organized source or group. Common nouns that follow this phrase include books, directories, catalogs, databases, reports, indexes, rankings, categories, records, guides, and magazines.
This phrase often has a formal or neutral tone because it is associated with official records, reference materials, and published information. It can also be used casually when discussing where something appears in a list or collection.
Example 1: Her business is listed in the city’s official directory.
Example 2: The study is listed in the database of approved research projects.
Example 3: That restaurant was listed in several food guides.
Etymology of the phrase listed in
“Listed in” combines listed, the past participle of list, with the preposition in. The noun list comes through Old French from a Germanic root associated with a border or strip of writing. Over time, it came to mean an organized series of names or items. The phrase therefore suggests inclusion within an organized record or collection.
How to Use Listed on
“Listed on” is used when an item is displayed on a page, surface, website, platform, notice, schedule, or other visible location. Common nouns that follow this phrase include websites, apps, calendars, maps, menus, bulletin boards, posters, shelves, marketplaces, and online directories.
The phrase is especially common in digital and commercial contexts. Businesses list products on marketplaces, employers list jobs on recruitment websites, and organizers list events on calendars or ticketing platforms.
Example 1: The new position is listed on the company’s careers page.
Example 2: Several concerts are listed on the community calendar.
Example 3: The seller has listed the bicycle on an online marketplace.
Etymology of the phrase listed on
“Listed on” combines listed with the preposition on. The word on has ancient Germanic roots and traditionally expresses contact with or position upon a surface. In modern English, that surface can be physical, such as a noticeboard, or digital, such as a website or application screen.
Related Concepts
Understanding prepositions of place and the difference between collections and surfaces makes it easier to choose between listed in and listed on.
- Prepositions of place: Prepositions such as in, on, and at show how one thing relates to a location. Their choice depends on whether the location is viewed as an enclosed space, a surface, or a point.
- Collections and containers: A book, database, directory, or category can function like a container for information, making listed in appropriate.
- Digital surfaces: A website, app, webpage, or online platform is commonly treated as a surface or visible location, making listed on the usual choice.
- Fixed collocations: Some nouns naturally pair with a particular preposition. For example, English speakers usually say “listed in a catalog” and “listed on a website.”
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples reflect common uses of the phrases in publishing, journalism, entertainment, and everyday digital communication:
- Books and reference works: A historical figure may be listed in an encyclopedia, index, or collection of biographies.
- News reporting: A film may be listed in a newspaper’s weekly entertainment guide.
- Real estate websites: A home for sale is commonly listed on a property website or housing platform.
- Film and television platforms: A movie may be listed on a streaming service’s menu or search page.
- Public notices: A community event may be listed on a local bulletin board or public calendar.
Listed in Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| included in | Made part of a document, group, collection, or category |
| recorded in | Entered or documented in an official record or database |
| cataloged in | Organized and entered into a catalog or reference system |
| mentioned in | Referred to within a publication or source |
Listed on Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| displayed on | Shown on a page, screen, website, or other visible surface |
| posted on | Published or placed on a website, noticeboard, or public surface |
| advertised on | Promoted through a website, platform, or media channel |
| shown on | Made visible on a page, screen, schedule, or display |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is it listed in a website or listed on a website?
The usual expression is “listed on a website.” A website is treated as a digital surface or platform where information is displayed.
Question 2: Is it listed in a directory or listed on a directory?
Use “listed in a directory” when referring to inclusion within the directory’s collection of entries. Use “listed on a directory page” when emphasizing the specific webpage where the entry appears.
Question 3: Is it listed in a catalog or listed on a catalog?
The standard expression is “listed in a catalog.” A catalog is generally understood as a collection of products, titles, or records. However, “listed on the catalog page” is correct when referring to a particular page.
Conclusion
Both “listed in” and “listed on” are correct. Choose listed in for inclusion within a publication, record, category, or collection, and choose listed on for display on a website, page, platform, schedule, or physical surface. Pro Tip: Selecting the natural preposition makes your writing sound polished and protects your professional credibility.
