on the file vs in the file

It sounds better to say "in the file" than "on the file." Picture a manila file; does it have documents inside it or on top of it?

Explained by Kay
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: June 22, 2018 • 117372 views

This phrase is not correct. Don't use it.

"on the file"

If you are referring to something within a file, you would use the words "in the file," not "on the file." However, you could use the phrase "on file" when talking about maintaining a record, for example, "We will keep your resume on file."

Show examples from the web [+]

Open the Downloads app. Touch Internet downloads or Other downloads. Press and hold down on the file you want to delete. Touch the trashcan icon to remove ...
Jun 5, 2012 ... Steve Jobs on the File System. After Tim Cook's first appearance at the D10 conference last week, All Things D released a podcast containing ...
Sign in to the Dropbox website; Click in the white space to the right of the file name on the file viewer page (if your file is inside of a folder, first open the folder) ...
We're showing you how to deal on the-file · Relax to the max. Zen-out before the busy week ahead with our 5 · Getting wet with this guy. Find out why he gets ...

Some alternatives from our editors:

in the file

This phrase is correct.

"in the file"

You can use this phrase when referring to a document within a file.

Some examples from our editors:

I don't see anything in the file; are you sure you sent this document to us?
There are several signed copies in the file.

Show examples from the web [+]

Other... possible missing persons are in the file.
Her info's in the file.
The person's prints must be included as WSQ-compressed images in the file.
Additional Type-15 records may be included in the file.
Top secret government documents, some of which are in the file.
Everything else is in the file.
Items contained in the file shall be given a serial number.
Her last known is in the file.
Double-click on an image file in the file manager or other application.
Character set used to write the tag data in the file.
Character set used to write ID3v1 tag data in the file.
My number's in the file.
Nothing in the file about tiny having a wife.
I don't recall an interview in the file.
There was no mention in the file about a boyfriend.
It says in the file that Heather Vanderwaal has a daughter.
Disclosure of other non-confidential versions of documents in the file, when justified.
Grayson put this clipping in the file on purpose.
It's all in the file that MacAllen took.
An error occurred while opening a directory in the file manager

Some alternatives from our editors:

within the file
inside the file

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on the file vs in the file

"on the file"

"in the file"

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