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Prepositions before nouns

Using 'board' with prepositions

On board and above board are common fixed expressions. Of board usually appears inside longer formal noun phrases.

Quick answer

Common expressions

Use on board for being on a ship, aircraft, or team. Use above board for honesty and openness. Of board appears in phrases such as chairman of the board.

Everyone is now on board with the plan.
The deal was completely above board.
She is chair of the board.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
on board

Being on a vehicle or supporting an idea

This phrase can be literal or figurative.

There were 200 passengers on board.
2
above board

Describing honesty

This idiom means open and legal.

Their business practices are above board.
3
of the board

Showing relation to a committee

Use of in formal organisational titles.

a member of the board

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
on board
Are you on board with the proposal?
supporting or included
above board
Everything was above board.
honest and transparent
of board
the chairman of the board
part of a larger phrase about a committee
board on
board on the wall
board followed by a separate place adjunct

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using above board for physical position

Above board is an idiom about honesty, not location.

✕ The bags are above board. ✓ The bags are on board.

Omitting the article in formal phrases

Board often takes the article the in organisational contexts.

✕ member of board ✓ member of the board

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The negotiations were completely ___.
2. We are all ___ board with the changes.
3. She became chair ___ the board.

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Frequently asked questions

Can 'on board' mean agreement?

Yes. It often means someone supports an idea or plan.

What does 'above board' mean?

It means honest, open, and legal.

Is 'of board' a fixed phrase?

No. It usually appears within a larger phrase such as 'member of the board'.

of, about, against, to or for racism? of, about, for, in or on friendship? of, about, for, on or to thing? of, about, for, to or with sex? of, about, on, to or for moon? "of access" or "with access"? "of accommodation" or "for accommodation"? "of accuracy" or "for accuracy"? "of action" or "in action"? "of actor", "with actor" or "by actor"? "of address" or "to address"? "of administration" or "in administration"?

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