Use feedback on or about this way: choose “on” for a clear target, and “about” for the wider topic around it.
You’ll see both “feedback on” and “feedback about” in solid writing. The trick is choosing the one that matches what the reader hears in their head. Are you reacting to a specific thing that can be graded, changed, or approved? “On” usually fits. Are you commenting in a broader way on the subject area, theme, or situation? “About” often reads cleaner.
This guide gives you a quick way to decide, plus sentence patterns you can reuse in emails, school writing, reports, and peer review, and quick notes.
Fast Picks For “On” Vs “About”
| What You Mean | Best Choice | Copy-Paste Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| You’re judging a specific draft, task, or item | Feedback on | “Could I get feedback on my draft?” |
| You’re reacting to performance in a single class, shift, or event | Feedback on | “I’d like feedback on today’s presentation.” |
| You’re commenting on a topic area or theme | Feedback about | “Do you have feedback about the course pace?” |
| You’re responding to a product, feature, or update | Feedback on | “Share feedback on the new checkout screen.” |
| You’re giving thoughts on a plan’s direction, not one line item | Feedback about | “Any feedback about the overall approach?” |
| You’re writing a survey prompt for customers | Feedback on | “Leave feedback on your experience.” |
| You’re opening a broad conversation on a situation | Feedback about | “I’m collecting feedback about working hours.” |
| You’re pointing at one section of a document | Feedback on | “Feedback on section 2 would help.” |
Feedback On Or About In Plain English
“Feedback” means evaluative information that helps a person or group adjust what they do. Dictionaries show it used with “on” when the target is specific, like a product or piece of work, and with “about” when the wording frames the subject more broadly. Cambridge’s entry gives examples like “feedback on these new products,” while Merriam-Webster describes feedback as information about an action, event, or process. If you want a quick reference for meaning and typical usage, see the Cambridge Dictionary entry for “feedback” and the Merriam-Webster entry for “feedback”.
Here’s the decision in one line: choose the preposition that matches your frame. “On” points at a target. “About” circles a topic.
When “Feedback On” Sounds Right
Use “feedback on” when the listener can picture the thing you mean. A file, a slide deck, a paragraph, a policy draft, a lesson plan, a code change, a customer call. You can point to it, open it, replay it, or edit it.
- “Can you give me feedback on my cover letter?”
- “I’d love feedback on the logic in section three.”
- “Please send feedback on the updated timetable.”
- “Thanks for your feedback on the report.”
Notice how each sentence has a clear object. That’s the “on” vibe: direct, target-first.
When “Feedback About” Fits Better
Use “feedback about” when you mean the topic in a wider sense. You might still have a document or event in mind, but your wording invites comments on the bigger picture: the tone, expectations, experience, or direction.
- “Do you have feedback about how the onboarding felt?”
- “I’m collecting feedback about the new grading rules.”
- “We’d like feedback about the overall website flow.”
- “Any feedback about the pace of the workshop?”
“About” can feel less like a scorecard and more like an open prompt.
Using Feedback On And Feedback About In Writing
Writers run into this choice in two places: asking for feedback and reporting feedback. Each has its own rhythm.
Asking For Feedback Without Sounding Awkward
If you want comments on a specific piece of work, name it and use “on.” If you want reactions to the broader setup, name the topic and use “about.”
Email Lines You Can Reuse
- “Could you share feedback on the attached draft by Friday?”
- “I’m looking for feedback on the clarity of the first page.”
- “Do you have feedback about the tone of this message?”
- “Any feedback about what feels missing from the plan?”
A small tip: put the target early. Busy readers skim. “Feedback on the budget table” lands faster than “I was wondering if you might be able to…”
Reporting Feedback In A Neutral Way
When you write what people said, “on” still works for a specific item, while “about” works for themes.
- “We received feedback on the login flow.”
- “We received feedback about load times on mobile.”
- “The team shared feedback on the first draft.”
- “Students gave feedback about pacing and workload.”
If you’re summarizing many comments, “about” can signal categories, while “on” can signal a single artifact.
Edge Cases That Trip People Up
Two patterns cause second-guessing: pronouns and “-ing” words.
Pronouns: If you write “feedback on it,” the reader asks, “On what?” If the noun is nearby, it’s fine. If it’s not, swap in the noun or switch to “about” and name the topic.
- “I got feedback on it” → “I got feedback on the draft.”
- “I got feedback about it” → “I got feedback about the overall structure.”
Gerunds: You’ll often see “feedback on writing,” “feedback on presenting,” or “feedback on working in groups.” These are actions, but they still act like targets. If you mean the whole situation around the action, “about” reads smoother.
- “Feedback on presenting” (the act, skills, delivery)
- “Feedback about presenting nerves” (the wider topic around it)
When both meanings feel possible, name the target and the topic in one line: “Feedback on my draft, and feedback about the overall direction, would help.”
Common Traps And Clean Fixes
Most “on/about” mistakes happen because the writer mixes two frames in one sentence. The fix is usually one quick edit.
Trap 1: Mixing A Specific Target With A Topic Phrase
Awkward: “I want feedback about my essay.”
Cleaner: “I want feedback on my essay.”
If the essay is the target, “on” is the natural pick. Swap to “about” only when you mean a wider angle, like “feedback about my argument structure” or “feedback about my writing style in general.”
Trap 2: Using “On” For A Vague Situation
Awkward: “Can I get feedback on the class?”
Cleaner: “Can I get feedback about the class?”
“The class” can mean the material, the teacher, the pace, or the setup. “About” fits that open scope.
Trap 3: Over-Formal Phrasing That Hides The Target
Wordy: “I am writing to request your feedback regarding the document that I have attached.”
Cleaner: “Could you share feedback on the attached document?”
Short wording reads confident and polite. It also cuts the chance of mixing frames.
How To Choose In 10 Seconds
Ask yourself one question: can I point to the thing?
- If you can point to it, go with “feedback on.”
- If you can’t point to it, or you want wide reactions, go with “feedback about.”
- If you can point to it but you want wide reactions anyway, name both: “feedback on the draft” plus “feedback about the overall tone.”
That third option is a nice escape hatch. Two short phrases can keep your meaning sharp.
“Feedback On” Vs “Feedback About” In School And Work
Context changes what sounds normal. In classes, “feedback on my assignment” is common because the work is a clear artifact. In workplaces, both show up: “feedback on the deck” for a concrete file, and “feedback about the process” for how the work happens.
School Writing Examples
- “Can you give feedback on my thesis statement?”
- “I’d like feedback on my citations and formatting.”
- “Do you have feedback about my study plan for the exam period?”
- “I’m gathering feedback about the group project setup.”
Workplace Examples
- “Please share feedback on the proposal by noon.”
- “I want feedback on the customer email before I send it.”
- “Any feedback about how the handover went?”
- “We’re asking for feedback about meeting length and timing.”
Both settings reward the same habit: name the target early. It removes guesswork for the reader.
When A Different Preposition Works Better
Sometimes neither “on” nor “about” is the best fit. English gives you a few other options that can be clearer.
Feedback For
Use “feedback for” when you’re linking comments to a purpose, like improving a later version, or when you’re labeling comments as intended for a person.
- “I left feedback for you in the margin.”
- “This feedback is for the next draft.”
Feedback From
Use “feedback from” when the source matters.
- “We gathered feedback from students.”
- “Feedback from testers showed two bugs.”
Feedback To
Use “feedback to” when you’re naming who receives it.
- “Please send feedback to the course team.”
- “Direct feedback to the editor.”
These aren’t replacements for “on/about.” They solve a different problem: who it’s for, who it’s from, or where it should go.
Mini Templates For Polite, Clear Requests
These templates keep your wording direct without sounding blunt. Swap in your target and send.
- On + artifact: “Could I get feedback on [draft/slide/paragraph]?”
- On + aspect: “Could I get feedback on [clarity/tone/structure]?”
- About + topic: “Do you have feedback about [topic/experience/process]?”
- About + change: “Any feedback about [new rule/update]?”
- Two-part: “Feedback on [artifact], and feedback about [big-picture topic], would help.”
One more trick: if you want a blunt-sounding sentence to feel warmer, add a short reason. Keep it tight: “so I can revise today” or “so we can adjust before launch.”
Editing Checklist You Can Run Before You Hit Send
This is a fast scan for your own writing. It’s also handy when you’re proofing someone else’s message.
| If Your Sentence Says… | Swap To… | Why It Reads Better |
|---|---|---|
| “feedback about my essay” | “feedback on my essay” | Targets a concrete artifact |
| “feedback on the class” | “feedback about the class” | Opens scope to experience |
| “feedback about slide 4” | “feedback on slide 4” | Points at one item |
| “feedback on our direction” | “feedback about our direction” | Frames a broad topic |
| “feedback about the attached draft” | “feedback on the attached draft” | Keeps request direct |
| “feedback on meeting habits” | “feedback about meeting habits” | Signals a wide topic |
One More Pass: Two Sentences That Never Fail
When you’re stuck, use one of these and move on:
- “Could you share feedback on this draft?”
- “Do you have feedback about the overall approach?”
If you want a single line that covers both frames, use this: “I’d like feedback on the draft and feedback about the overall direction.” It’s plain, and it tells the reader exactly where to aim their comments.
If you’re writing a form label, pick one: “Feedback on the course” (grades a specific class) or “Feedback about the course” (invites broad comments). Consistency across a page keeps readers relaxed.
And if you ever see the phrase “feedback on or about” in a form or contract line, it often means “either framing is acceptable.” In everyday writing, choosing one preposition makes your sentence feel more natural.