WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - Grammar Minute: Waiting on = Fancy Butlers

Episode Date: October 23, 2024

You don't "wait on" as many things as you think you do. Learn more in today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Welcome to the Grammar Minute, where we're saving the English language 60 seconds at a time. I'm Lauren Smith, and I'm currently waiting on an important email. Waiting on something implies that I am serving it. This makes no sense in the context of emails, unless I'm expected to dress up in a butler suit and serve champagne to my inbox, which is something I feel like I do anyway as a slave to modern technology. The proper phrase is waiting for, which implies that time is passing and I'm ready. ready for something to occur. These two phrases are often used as if they mean the same thing, but let's set the record straight once and for all.

They don't mean the same thing. To recap, waiting on means to serve. Waiting for means, well, exactly what it sounds like it means. That's your Grammar Minute. Visit the Grammar Minute.com for more tips and tricks.