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1 : to give information about (something) in a newspaper or on television or radio

[+ object]

Their job is to report the news accurately and fairly.

[no object]— often + on

He reports on political news for a local TV station.

2 : to tell people about (something) : to make a report about (something)

[+ object]

He was asked to report the details of the meeting.

— often + on

She reported on the project to her manager.

From Merriam Webster Learner’s Dictionary

http://www.learnersdictionary.com/definition/report

1 NEWS [intransitive, transitive] to give people information about recent events, especially in newspapers and on television and radio → reporter

This is Gavin Williams, reporting from the United Nations in New York.

report on

The Times sent her to Bangladesh to report on the floods.

3 JOB/WORK [intransitive, transitive] to tell someone about what has been happening, or what you are doing as part of your job

report (to somebody) on something

I’ve asked him to come back next week and report on his progress.

From Longman Dictionary

https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/report

I have quoted relevant definitions from Merriam Webster and Longman Dicitonary.

What is the difference between “report” and “report on”?

Take these two examples from Merriam Webster Learner’s Dictionary. Can I delete “on” without changing the meanings of the sentences?

  1. He reports on political news for a local TV station.
  2. She reported on the project to her manager.
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  • Hello, lux. While the quoted material from MWLD is very good as far as it goes, other senses / subsenses of 'report', preferably with example sentences, need to be considered. Can you link to MWLD, please. Have you checked in other dictionaries? // 'She reported [back] on the project to her manager' is idiomatic, and means she filled her manager in on what had been planned / achieved. 'She reported the project to her manager' is unidiomatic, I'd say. It's perhaps acceptable if she's informing her manager that a covert or obscure conference has taken / is taking ... place.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Jul 21, 2019 at 12:23
  • Yes, I have edited accordingly. I have only listed relevant definitions from the two dictionaries.
    – luxury20041985
    Jul 21, 2019 at 12:42
  • yes, I see your point. That is why you asked me to list more sub-senses. 4 [+ object] : to tell the police, fire department, etc., about (something, such as a crime or accident). 5 [+ object] : to tell someone with authority about (someone who has broken a rule, done something wrong, etc.) from MWLD.
    – luxury20041985
    Jul 21, 2019 at 12:45
  • I think it indicates a person, i.e. first or third. If someone 'reports on' something, they are apart from the event. Simply 'reporting' implies they were connected with the event.
    – marcellothearcane
    Jul 21, 2019 at 14:33

1 Answer 1

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No. To report, say a successful project, you can say quite simply, “The project was successful”. But to report on the successful project, you’d be expected to provide details.

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