NewsBlues mrsbgrammar Page 121
Chapter 2 Word Choice
111
in behalf of/on behalf of
In behalf of you journalists who aren't sure when to use "in behalf
of" or "on behalf of," Mrs. B presents today's lesson.
"In behalf of" means "for the benefit of" or "in the interest of."
v
Class members made the contribution IN BEHALF OF students
who had grown up in homes far less favored than theirs.
"On behalf of" means "as the agent of" or "on the part of."
v
ON behalf of all of us concerned about a diverse news operation,
management is recruiting minority journalists.
Here's another example of its use you're likely to run into when you
speak as a representative for your station:
v
ON BEHALF OF everyone at the channel 8, I invite you to join
us for an Independence Day celebration down by the river.
Now ponder the words Mrs. B saw on a bumper sticker in Daytona
Beach ... as you weigh the value of spending time learning the
nuances of our language:
"Don't let your tongue lick you."
