Leadership vs On the power

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Leadership

Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun

On the power

Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Leadership
 LeadershipOn the power
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈliːdəʃɪp/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈliːdərʃɪp/"]/🇬🇧 //ɒn ðə ˈpaʊər//🇺🇸 //ɑn ðə ˈpaʊər//
MeaningThe ability to guide and manage a group of people.Using power or control in a situation.
ExampleEffective leadership requires a clear vision and strong communication skills.The CEO spoke confidently, clearly on the power he held within the company.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsclear, effective, firm, assume, take, take over, bid, campaign, challenge, under somebody’s leadership, leadership from, leadership in, a challenge to somebody’s leadership, a lack of leadership, somebody’s style of leadership, clear, effective, firm, assume, take, take over, bid, campaign, challenge, under somebody’s leadership, leadership from, leadership in, a challenge to somebody’s leadership, a lack of leadership, somebody’s style of leadership, clear, effective, firm, assume, take, take over, bid, campaign, challenge, under somebody’s leadership, leadership from, leadership in, a challenge to somebody’s leadership, a lack of leadership, somebody’s style of leadershipon the power play, on the power struggle, on the power dynamics, on the power shift
Antonymsfollowership, subordination-
Common mistakes'Leaderships' instead of 'leadership' (wrong plural form), 'Leaders' confused with 'leadership' (different meanings), 'Leadership' used in informal settings where 'guidance' or 'direction' might fit betterUsed incorrectly in informal contexts. Best suited for discussions about authority., Misinterpreted as only having a positive meaning; can imply oppression., Not used with the correct prepositions in some cases (e.g., 'on the power of' vs. 'with power').
Usage notesUse 'leadership' in professional, educational, or community contexts. It may not be used casually. Avoid using it in contexts related to personal friendships.Use this phrase when discussing authority or influence. It is often employed in discussions about leadership or politics and can carry both positive and negative connotations depending on the context.

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Leadership
On the power

Frequently asked questions: Leadership vs On the power

What's the difference between Leadership and On the power?

Leadership: The ability to guide and manage a group of people. On the power: Using power or control in a situation.

Which is more common: Leadership and On the power?

Leadership is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Leadership: Effective leadership requires a clear vision and strong communication skills. On the power: The CEO spoke confidently, clearly on the power he held within the company.

Can I use Leadership and On the power interchangeably?

Not always. Leadership and On the power are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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