Stress or Stress On: Which One Is Correct?
The word stress can function as either a verb or a noun.
When stress is used as a verb with the meaning of 'to emphasize', it is a transitive verb and therefore takes a direct object:
✅ My parents always stress the importance of a good education.
❌ My parents always stress on the importance of a good education.
✅ The committee stressed the need for more accurate information.
❌ The committee stressed on the need for more accurate information.
✅ The doctor stressed the role of exercise in maintaining good health.
❌ The doctor stressed on the role of exercise in maintaining good health.
Stress is followed by the preposition on only when stress is used as a noun:
✅ My parents always put stress on the importance of a good education.
✅ The committee laid stress on the need for more accurate information.
✅ The doctor placed stress on the role of exercise in maintaining good health.
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Examples from the Media
Ontario and Quebec laid out their plans for schools Wednesday as they stressed the importance of vaccinations to keep students and educators safe. —Toronto Star (2021)
It said clubs in Northern Ireland must stress to players and management teams that '12 April is the earliest date that they may be permitted to resume activity'. —BBC (2021)
Those polltakers put stress on building Reagan's positive image. —The Washington Post (1980)
Nowadays, Eton likes to lay stress on the entrepreneurs it produces (Johnnie Boden), the athletes (Matthew Pinsent), actors (Damian Lewis), successful cultural log-rollers (Jay Jopling) or green activists-lobbyists (Jonathan Porritt). —The Guardian (2005)
Practice
In the following sentences, fill in the blanks with either stress or stress on.
1. This school lays ________ creativity.
2. Dietitians always ________ the importance of a balanced diet.
3. The professor put ________ the relevance of research in advancing scientific knowledge.
4. Why should we ________ punctuality?
5. The coach laid ________ teamwork and collaboration during the training session.
Answer Key
1. stress on 2. stress 3. stress on 4. stress 5. stress on
Recommended Further Reading
'Emphasize Something' or 'Emphasize on Something'?
Real-World Examples of Misuse
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| 1. Etc. is not necessary at the end of a list beginning with e.g. Both imply a partial list naming items from a larger group; therefore, only one is necessary. 2. We can put stress on something, or we can stress it, but we cannot stress on it. (Image Source: Ying Wa Primary School) (Also by the Same School: 1/2/3) |
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| (Image Source: S.K.H. Lee Shiu Keung Primary School) |
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