On Behalf Of vs. In Behalf Of

On Behalf Of vs. In Behalf Of On Behalf Of vs. In Behalf Of On Behalf Of vs. In Behalf Of By Maeve Maddox A reader asks, Is there a difference in the use of these two prepositional phrases? I get mixed up a lot of times. I’d appreciate your clarifying this in one of your posts. â€Å"On behalf of† means, â€Å"as representing,† and â€Å"in behalf of† means â€Å"for the advantage of.† People or agencies who act as representatives of others, act â€Å"on behalf of†: The ACLU brought suit against the city on behalf of three residents.    People whose intention is merely to be helpful act â€Å"in behalf of†: The residents along the border collected food in behalf of the migrants. Merriam-Webster does not draw a distinction between the phrases, but includes both in its entry for behalf: â€Å"in behalf of or on behalf of preposition: in the interest of,  as the representative of,  for the benefit of. Ex. â€Å"This letter is written in behalf of my client.† The OED, on the other hand, deplores such a merger of meaning: In recent use we often find on behalf in the sense of in behalf, to the loss of an important distinction. According to the OED, on behalf of means, â€Å"on the part of (another),† with the notion of official agency; in behalf of means, â€Å"in the interest of, as a friend or defender of, for the benefit of.† The connotation is the notion of interposition. The Chicago Manual of Style supports the distinction for American speakers in its â€Å"Good Usage versus common usage† section: In behalf of means â€Å"in the interest or for the benefit of.† Ex. â€Å"The decision is in behalf of the patient.† On behalf of means â€Å"acting as agent or representative of.† Ex. â€Å"On behalf of Mr. Scott, I would like to express heartfelt thanks.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Inquire vs Enquire20 Pairs of One-Word and Two-Word FormsWhile vs. Whilst