Report on vs. Report of – Which is Correct?
Both “report on” and “report of” are correct, but they convey different relationships. Use “report on” for coverage, investigation, or commentary about a subject. Use “report of” for an account, record, or description of an event, finding, or thing. The surrounding noun and intended emphasis determine the best choice here.
Because report is sometimes confused with rapport, distinguishing them clearly is useful; Rapport vs. Report explains the difference.
Report on or Report of Something – Which is Correct?
“Report on” and “report of” are both correct English phrases. The difference is mainly one of emphasis.
Use report on when a report discusses, investigates, analyzes, or provides information about a subject. The subject is usually a broad topic, issue, event, organization, or area of study.
Use report of when you mean an account, description, record, or indication of a particular event, observation, finding, or occurrence. The phrase often focuses on what was observed or what happened.
For example, a newspaper may publish a report on climate change, meaning an article or investigation about that topic. A police department may receive a report of a burglary, meaning an account that a burglary occurred.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use this simple mental test: “on” points to the subject being discussed, while “of” points to the event or information being recorded.
- Report on = about: “The committee issued a report on workplace safety.”
- Report of = an account of: “The committee received a report of an accident.”
If you could naturally replace the phrase with about, choose report on. If you could replace it with an account or record of, choose report of.
| Word or Phrase | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| report on | Noun phrase | A discussion, investigation, or analysis about a subject | The agency released a report on air pollution. |
| report of | Noun phrase | An account, record, or description of an event or finding | Officials investigated a report of flooding. |
How to Use “Report On”
Report on is used when the report has a topic or subject. It is especially common in journalism, academic writing, government communication, business, and formal descriptions of research. The report may explain causes, present evidence, evaluate developments, or summarize information.
The phrase often introduces a broad subject rather than a single piece of information. Common patterns include a report on education, a report on the economy, a report on the investigation, and a report on employee satisfaction.
Example 1: The research team published a report on the effects of sleep deprivation.
Example 2: The committee prepared a report on the company’s environmental performance.
Example 3: The journalist wrote a detailed report on the city’s housing shortage.
Etymology of the phrase “report on”
The noun report comes from the Old French report, meaning information or an account, and ultimately derives from Latin roots meaning “to carry back” or “bring back.” The preposition on developed from an Old English word associated with contact, position, and relation. In modern English, on commonly introduces the subject under discussion, producing the meaning “a report about” that subject.
How to Use “Report Of”
Report of is used when the noun following of identifies an event, incident, observation, discovery, or specific piece of information being reported. It frequently appears in official, legal, medical, police, emergency, and historical contexts.
This phrase can describe an account that someone has provided or information that has been received. Typical examples include a report of an accident, a report of misconduct, a report of unusual activity, and a report of damage.
Example 1: The emergency service responded to a report of smoke in the building.
Example 2: The doctor documented a report of severe abdominal pain.
Example 3: The newspaper confirmed a report of negotiations between the two governments.
Etymology of the phrase “report of”
Report entered English through Old French and is related to the Latin idea of carrying or bringing information back. The preposition of has Old English and Germanic origins and commonly expresses association, description, or the contents of something. In report of, it connects the report with the event or information being described.
Related Concepts
Understanding the difference between topic-focused and event-focused prepositional phrases makes it easier to choose between report on and report of.
- Prepositional phrases: A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition, such as on or of, and adds information about a noun or verb. The selected preposition can change the relationship between the words.
- Topic versus event: A topic is the broad subject discussed in a report, while an event is something that happened and is being described or recorded.
- Countable noun: Report is usually countable when it means a particular written or spoken account. This allows forms such as a report, the report, and several reports.
- Reporting verbs: Verbs such as announce, confirm, describe, document, and investigate frequently appear with these expressions.
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples demonstrate how writers and organizations use each phrase in realistic contexts.
- News journalism: A newspaper might publish a report on an election to analyze candidates, voting patterns, and political consequences.
- Breaking news: A news bulletin may mention a report of an explosion when describing information received about a specific incident.
- Science writing: A research publication may present a report on ocean temperatures covering data, methods, and long-term trends.
- Historical writing: A biography might refer to a report of the king’s illness as a historical account describing a particular condition or event.
- Business communication: A board may commission a report on workplace culture, while an internal memo may document a report of employee misconduct.
Practice Exercises
Choose report on or report of to complete each sentence.
- The committee released a detailed ________ renewable energy policy.
- Police received a ________ a stolen vehicle near the station.
- The university commissioned a ________ student mental health.
- The doctor recorded a ________ sudden chest pain.
- The newspaper published an investigative ________ corruption in local government.
Answer Key
- report on — The report discusses renewable energy policy.
- report of — The report is an account that a vehicle was stolen.
- report on — The report examines the broad topic of student mental health.
- report of — The report records a specific symptom or occurrence.
- report on — The investigative report examines corruption as a subject.
“Report On” Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| analysis of | A detailed examination of a subject or issue |
| review of | An assessment or evaluation of something |
| study of | A systematic investigation of a topic |
| coverage of | Information or discussion about a subject, especially in the media |
| investigation into | An inquiry intended to discover facts about an issue |
“Report Of” Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| account of | A description or narrative of something that happened |
| record of | Information preserved as evidence or documentation |
| description of | Words explaining the characteristics or details of something |
| notice of | Information drawing attention to an event, condition, or fact |
| account concerning | Information relating specifically to an event or matter |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is it “a report on” or “a report of” something?
Both phrases are grammatically correct. Use a report on for a report about a subject, and use a report of for an account or record of an event, finding, or occurrence.
Question 2: Is “report on” more formal than “report of”?
Neither phrase is automatically more formal. Both occur in professional and academic writing. The choice depends on whether the report focuses on a topic or records a particular event or piece of information.
Question 3: Can “report on” and “report of” be used interchangeably?
Sometimes they may describe similar content, but they are not always interchangeable. Report on workplace safety suggests an examination of the subject, whereas report of a workplace accident suggests an account of a specific incident.
Question 4: Which phrase is common in news writing?
Both are common. Journalists often use report on for investigations and coverage of topics, and report of for information about an incident, claim, or occurrence.
Question 5: What is the quickest way to choose between them?
Replace on with about. If the sentence still expresses the intended meaning, use report on. If the phrase means an account or record of something that happened, use report of.
Conclusion
Report on and report of are both correct, but they emphasize different relationships. Choose report on when discussing or analyzing a subject, and choose report of when recording or describing an event, observation, or finding. Pro Tip: Selecting the precise preposition strengthens your credibility and helps your professional writing sound clear, accurate, and polished.
