Comments on: Should you say “on foot” or “by foot”?

By: Phil Williams

Phil Williams — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 16:30:12 +0000

You’re welcome! And yes, that’s generally been my philosophy; and indeed, if we don’t know the reason for rules, we may always question their purpose/validity…

By: Nowhere man

Nowhere man — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 21:30:43 +0000

Thank you Phil
Very good explanation. It will help me to remember the correct option
It is always easier to learn some rules when you know the reason why it is like that

By: sweta

sweta — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 03:16:36 +0000

Are you going ____ foot ? (by/on)

By: Arnold

Arnold — Sun, 04 Jul 2021 20:06:04 +0000

In reply to Phil Williams.

‘BY’ stands for ‘by means of…’ it’s perfectly correct to use it when the means are are not part of your body.
Having said that you say ‘…by hand’. Hand
being a tool. Although ‘…on foot’ is the more appropriate expression because the foot is the very essence of standing for the human body.

By: Phil Williams

Phil Williams — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 14:38:26 +0000

In reply to Irfan Khan.

Hi Irfan – for cycling, we would refer to the bike/bicyle, as a mode of transport; “by bike/bicycle” or “on a bike/bicycle” – or for the verb, “by cycling”.

By: Irfan Khan

Irfan Khan — Sun, 27 Sep 2020 08:37:58 +0000

hello sir wiliams , I have a question about cycling what should we use by cycle or on cycle because here we use both foot and a mean for transportaion.

By: Phil Williams

Phil Williams — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 14:51:23 +0000

In reply to Chris B.

That’s one way around it!

By: Chris B

Chris B — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 14:45:49 +0000

I tell my students to simply use the verb to walk. It’s what native speakers use 95%+ of the time.

How did you get here?
I walked.

By: Phil Williams

Phil Williams — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 15:21:14 +0000

In reply to Dude NOT SO Perfect !!!.

You’re welcome!

By: Dude NOT SO Perfect !!!

Dude NOT SO Perfect !!! — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 15:11:18 +0000

Hi Phil,
Thanking you once again for the clarification.

Best Regards
Sreehari