Tip 696: "Based On" or "Based Off"?

From the Writing Workshops: “Based On” or “Based Off”? 

 Our friend Randy Warner at WesTech asked about using “based on” or “based off” (or “based off of”). 

Which sounds best to you?  

“Based on the evidence, we say ‘Go!’”

“Based off the evidence, we say ‘Go!’”

“Based off of the evidence, we say ‘Go!’”

The Background

“On” and “off” (and a whole bunch of other words) are prepositions. Relationship words. A rough way to identify a preposition is to imagine a rabbit and a hill. 

“The rabbit ran to the hill.” Yup. “To.” A preposition. 

“The rabbit ran around the hill.” Yup. “Around.” 

Sometimes you have to tweak the example, because “The rabbit ran through the hill” doesn’t make a lot of sense. BONK! Maybe better: “The rabbit ran through the tunnel.” 

The Answer to Randy’s Question

So . . . 

“The rabbit ran on the hill.” Yup. That works. 

“The rabbit ran off the hill.” Yup. That works too. 

But notice how the meaning changes. 

“On the hill” puts Flopsy on the hill. Connected to it. There. 

“Off the hill” puts her moving away. Separating. Leaving. (“Flopsy! Come back! Come back, Flopsy!”) 

“On” usually means a connection. 

“Off” (or “Off of”) usually means a separation. 

“She’s on track.” Good. 

“She’s off track.” Bad.

So whenever we base something, it should be on the evidence, on our gut feelings, or on what's the right thing to do. 

Based off may be frequent and common, but it’s wrong. Misleading. Inappropriate.

We still love this stuff.

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Trivia Questions: What’s Flopsy’s last name? Name her siblings in birth order.