Distinguishing Between Onboard and On Board: Usage, History, and Tips

Understanding “Onboard” vs. “On Board”

In English, we have many words that seem similar but mean different things. Today, let’s learn about “onboard” and “on board.” These words are used a lot but have different uses.

History of the Words

The word “on board” comes from old times when people traveled by ship. “On” means to be on top or upon something, and “board” means the flat planks on a ship. Over time, “on board” started to mean being on any vehicle, like a plane or bus, or even being part of a team. “Onboard” is a newer word that usually means to join or start something, like a new job or project.

How to Use “On Board” and “Onboard”

On Board: This is used when talking about being inside or on a vehicle or being part of a team. It’s made of two words.

• The passengers are all on board the plane.
• Welcome on board our new ship!
• All the players were on board with the coach’s plan.
• The family got on board the train just in time.
• They felt happy to be on board the project from the start.

Onboard: This is an adjective or verb describing the process of welcoming and training someone to join something, like a new job.

• We need to onboard the new employees quickly.
• The company has a great onboard process for new staff.
• It took a week to fully onboard the new team member.
• They developed an app to help onboard new users easily.
• After they onboard the students, they begin classes.

Remembering the Difference

To remember which word to use, think about the meaning:

• If talking about being inside or part of something, say “on board” as two words.
• If talking about bringing someone into something, like starting a new job, use “onboard” as one word.

Summary

“On board” means being inside something or part of a team, while “onboard” is about welcoming or training someone new. Always remember their contexts, and you will use them correctly!