Job Discussion Forums

Sashadroogie · Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 7:29 am Post subject: Foot by foot

On foot or by foot? Do you use one or the other? Both? Are they both correct? Or is 'by foot' just wrong and to be avoided?

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

I use both. Probably "on foot" more often, though.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Vile error: 'by foot.'

johnslat · Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 12:54 pm Post subject:

Dear spiral78,

Not according to the Oxford online dictionary:

"on (or by) foot
walking rather than traveling by car or using other transport."

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/foot

And it's bootless to argue with Oxford.

Regards,
Footloose John

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Ach. And I haven't owned a car for over 15 grateful years, so I exercise the 'on foot' option daily, along with by bicycle and by tram and by train....

By foot.....just don't make me use it personally!!! Horrors.

GKD · Joined: 02 Jan 2013 Posts: 19

I use both ... guess it depends on the context.

MotherF · Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 2:10 pm Post subject:

On foot. But I wouldn't describe by foot as a vile error, as it does not impede comprehension on the part of the listener/reader.

Shonai Ben · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 617

......I was taught "on foot" in school........so it's "on foot" as a teacher.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2013 4:18 am Post subject:

Thanks for the replies.

Is there any possibility that the use of 'by foot' is limited by region?

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

Anything's possible; literally HUNDREDS of British and US dialectic renderings, e.g., if somebody is waiting ON line (queued up), they're probably a New Yawker.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I am a militant pedestrian and I travel ON foot.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2013 9:31 am Post subject:

Hee here. Vote then. With your feet, on the poll. Or I'll be by the warpath...

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

Well, whenever they tell me at the airport that I can get on the plane, I say "Huh-uh, not me, I'm getting IN the plane".

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2013 1:53 pm Post subject:

Where exactly were those snakes in this deeply philosophical film?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgIz_t7rKPg

wangdaning · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 3154

You really made me think about this and where I would use such a phrase. It is possible to use both, but very unlikely that I would use them. I would be more likely to use a verb.