Question Details	Asked By	Asked On
On someone's end - on someone's part	riccioni	06/02/04
Dear ESL Experts: Do "on someone’s part" and "on someone’s end" have the same meaning? (For example, should I say "The Job Center is not down. Maybe the problem is on your end. Try these links." or "The Job Center is not down. Maybe the problem is on your part. Try these links"?) If not, when do you use the first and when do you use the second? Would you please give me some examples? Any alternatives? Are the above phrases used in formal situations? If so, what do you usually say in everyday speech/conversation? Again, many, many thanks for your kind help. Regards, Paolo
Clarification/Follow-up by riccioni on 06/03/04 5:57 am: Dear voiceguy2000: Thank you very much for your prompt response. You wrote: We have studied the plane's flight recorder, and found no evidence of any error on the pilot's part [alt: on the part of the pilot]. Accordingly, we are closing the investigation. My question is: Would you please explain/clarify what "[alt: on the part of the pilot]" means? Again, many, many thanks for your kind help. Regards, Paolo Clarification/Follow-up by voiceguy2000 on 06/03/04 7:51 am: My entry in the brackets was an alternate version of the phrase. "Alt: " is an abbreviation for "alternate." It simply was to let you know that you could equally well write "on the pilot's part" or "on the part of the pilot." The two versions would be interchangeable. This interchangeability applies only when a noun, rather than a pronoun, is being used (i.e., on [noun]'s part). We would not replace "on my part" (pronoun) with "on the part of me," and so on. The substitution can be made in order to produce a sentence that flows more smoothly or creates a more dramatic effect. Slightly awkward: The photos triggered deep-seated resentment on the general public's part. Possibly better: The photos triggered deep-seated resentment on the part of the general public. Not so good: Experts predict that high fuel prices will lead to new behavior on many car owners' part. Better: Experts predict that high fuel prices will lead to new behavior on the part of many car owners. Better still (in this particular case): Experts predict that high fuel prices will lead to new behavior by many car owners. Hope all of that makes sense.
Answered By		Answered On
voiceguy2000		06/02/04
I would define "at your end" as meaning "with respect to things under your immediate control." I would define "on your part" as meaning "with respect to you" or " as concerns you." The difficulty with trying to use these two expressions interchangeably is that end tends to refer to something that is physically or figuratively under control of one person, as distinguished from another person, whereas part tends to refer to a person himself or herself. Although there are some situations where these concepts can overlap, I would say that the overlap is more of an exception than a rule. In the simplest example, where there is a communication link extending between Point A and Point B, we can say that the two Points each represent an "end" or terminus of that link. If there is a problem with the link, the two people can explore possible reasons by analyzing the state of the equipment and signals "at my end" and "at your end." ("On" may be used in place of "at," but "at" would be the most natural-sounding in most situations.) For this kind of discussion, "on my part" or "on your part" would sound strange. Similarly, when the efforts of two or more people are required to bring about a result, the responsibilities of a particular person may be referred to as being "at [that person's] end." I'll take care of getting the financing arranged at my end. You just make sure the units are ready to ship on Monday. We' got all the clearances at our end. As soon as you get your export permit, we can get this deal going. At the other end of the spectrum, "on [someone's] part" generally refers to a person himself or herself (or perhaps an organization or institution), rather than to a condition that exists in the presence of that person. Something referred to as "on [someone's] part" is something that exists with respect to that person, or belongs to that person. This new anti-virus software requires no manual updating on your part. Lack of planning on your part will not constitute an emergency on my part. The best thing is that it takes only a couple of days for us to set this up, and it requires no ongoing effort on your part. Try this in your home for ten days, with no obligation on your part. If you don't like it, send it back at our expense. Otherwise, we will charge your credit card for three easy payments of $29. We have studied the plane's flight recorder, and found no evidence of any error on the pilot's part [alt: on the part of the pilot]. Accordingly, we are closing the investigation. I could imagine situations where, for example, a company might refer to obligations "at our end" or "on our part" in certain contexts. In both cases, the meaning would be "belonging to us." Only in this "belonging" sense, as far as I can see, does any overlap occur between the two expressions. There is no reason I can think of that "on [someone's] part" could not be used in the most formal of situations. "At [someones] end" has both formal and informal uses; thus, everything would depend on the specific context. Both expressions could be used in everyday conversation, but there are usually less wordy ways to convey the same meaning as "on [one's] part." It is hard to think of any general-purpose substitutes for either phrase. There are many ways to convey the same general meanings; for example, instead of "responsibilities on your part" we could say "responsibilities falling on you" or "items for which your are responsible" or simply "your responsibilities." Because of this, there has not been a great need for direct substitutes.

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