Word FaQ

Is it “on behalf of” or “in behalf of”?

Don’t give yourself too big of a Paracetemol headache over this one. The two are generally interchangeable. However, in behalf of all you technical people out there (note the usage), here are the official instructions for untangling these two little hairballs:

Use “in behalf” when you mean “for the benefit of”, the way I did earlier.
There was a fund raiser held in behalf of the many homeless children in the Philippines.

Use “on behalf” when you mean “as an agent of” or “on the part of”.
Terry accepted the award on behalf of her friend, who could not make it to the ceremony.