Instructions On or Instructions For – Which Is Correct?

Do you ever feel like you spend way too much of your day reading instructions?

Anyway, we’re about to provide instructions on how to use “instructions on” or instructions for” in a sentence. Did we get this sentence right? Keep reading to find out.

Instructions On or Instructions For – Which Is Correct?

“Instructions on” or “instructions for” could be correct depending on the surrounding sentence. “Instructions on” is more suitable when informing how something should be done. “Instructions for” something are usually instructions with a specific purpose, or which aim to achieve a particular goal.

Instructions On or Instructions For

In this context, both “for” and “on” are prepositions or words that express a relation between different parts of a sentence. Consider the following sentence, for example:

  • The letter was on the table.

Here, “on” is expressing the letter’s position in relation to the table. Try another:

  • The letter was for the table.

Here, “for” expresses the letter’s relation to the table again. However, this sentence creates a vastly different image from the previous one.

While a letter on a table creates the image of an envelope situated on a table, a letter for the table creates the image of a table of people to whom the letter is addressed.

So, we can see replacing “on” with “for” or vice versa can completely change the image created by a sentence. So how is this done in clauses containing the phrases “instructions on” or “instructions for”?

Instructions On

“Instructions on” can be used when in reference to instructions relating to something in particular.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines “on”, in this context as “relating to”. It provides the example of “a book on pregnancy”.

So, a book on pregnancy is a book relating to pregnancy. Similarly, instructions on something are instructions relating to something. Let’s look at some examples of how “instructions on” might be used in a sentence:

  • I’ve written a book providing some instructions on how to draw a portrait.
  • Instructions on how to use the product can be found on the back of the box.
  • Can you provide some instructions on how to use the cotton candy machine?
  • Everyone be quiet; I’m reading the instructions on how to install this software for Kaden’s stupid computer game.
  • Have all the staff members received instructions on how to interact with the client?

Instructions For

“Instructions for” can be used when referring to instructions that have a certain purpose or are intended to achieve a certain outcome.

“For” in the context of providing “instructions for” something can be attributed the following definitions from the Cambridge Dictionary:

  1. in order to get or achieve
  2. having the purpose of

So, instructions for something are instructions that one acquires for a specific purpose or in order to get or achieve a specific outcome. Let’s see this phrase in a few sentences:

  • The container comes with instructions for its own recycling.
  • These are the take-off instructions for Flight 407.
  • I’ve given the nanny a list of instructions for the baby.
  • Here are some instructions for using the machine without damaging it.
  • I’ve received your instructions for the catering next week and have set them down in my diary.

Instructions Of

“Instructions of” should not be used except when you are referring to the person who has provided the instructions.

If we rewrite any of the example sentences above with the insertion of “of”, the resulting sentences will probably look quite clumsy.

  • I’ve given the nanny a list of instructions of the baby.
  • Can you provide some instructions of how to use the cotton candy machine?

“Instructions of” can only really be used when referring to the person giving said instructions. For example:

  • It’s possible that he is being protected by the government, perhaps on the instructions of the President himself.
  • These are the instructions of your substitute teacher, not my own, but try to follow them anyway.
  • We are acting on the instructions of Her Royal Highness.
  • He confessed to acting on the instructions of his employers.
  • They have acquitted her on the instructions of the Chief Justice.
  • Some vegans are having to eat fish under the instructions of their physicians.

Which Is Used the Most?

The Google Ngram Viewer makes it clear that “instructions for” is used more than both “instructions on” and “instructions of” in English.

Instructions On or Instructions For usage

Surprisingly, “instructions of” was the most popular of these phrases from 1900 until 1915. It then became subject to a gradual decline over the past century. This may simply be due to the changing nature of language.

“Instructions on” has been subject to minimal change over the past century. “Instructions for”, on the other hand, has seen some peaks in use, but has been reducing in usage since its last peak in 1993.

Nonetheless, “instructions for” remains the most used phrase overall, and this is the case in American and British English as well.

Final Thoughts

“Instructions on” and “instructions for” are both grammatically correct but tend to be used in different contexts. “Instructions on” refers to instructions relating to something and usually precedes a “how to” statement. “Instructions for” refers to instructions for achieving something or pursuing a particular purpose.