Have you ever wondered about experience in vs experience on when writing a résumé, cover letter, email, or professional profile? 🤔 You may know that both in and on are common English prepositions, but choosing the right one after the word “experience” can be confusing. Many people write sentences such as “I have experience in marketing” and then wonder if “I have experience on marketing” is also correct.
The good news is that the difference is easier than it first appears. In most cases, experience in is the standard choice when you are talking about a field, subject, profession, activity, or area of knowledge. For example, “She has experience in accounting” is natural because accounting is a professional field.
Experience on is much less common and should not normally be used as a replacement for experience in. In certain contexts, “on” can appear when talking about work involving a particular project, machine, or task, but expressions such as experience with or experience working on are often clearer.
In this guide, we will explain experience in vs experience on with simple rules, examples, tables, common mistakes, and practical situations. Limited to vs Limited Too | Solve vs Resolve | Year Old vs Years Old
Quick Answer: Experience In vs Experience On
Experience in is normally used to describe knowledge, skill, or practice in a field, subject, profession, or activity.
Examples:
- I have experience in marketing.
- She has experience in teaching.
- He has experience in web development.
Experience on is less common. It may be used when referring to work involving a particular project, system, production, or physical equipment, but many sentences are more naturally written with experience with or experience working on.
For example:
- Natural: I have experience working on large websites.
- Natural: I have experience with WordPress.
- Natural: I have experience in web development.
- Less natural in many contexts: I have experience on WordPress.
Simple rule: Use experience in for a field or activity. Use experience with for a tool, system, or thing you have used. Use experience working on when you want to emphasize a specific project or task.
Understanding the Basics of Experience In vs Experience On
The easiest way to understand this difference is to focus on what comes after experience.
What Does “Experience In” Mean?
Experience in means that someone has knowledge, training, skill, or practical experience in a particular field, subject, profession, or activity.
The general pattern is:
experience in + field, subject, activity, or area
Examples:
- I have experience in graphic design.
- She has experience in customer service.
- He has experience in software development.
- They have experience in digital marketing.
- We need someone with experience in accounting.
Here, in connects the word “experience” to a broad area.
Think of in as meaning that you have worked or learned within a field or area.
What Does “Experience On” Mean?
Experience on is not normally the first choice when describing a field or professional skill.
For example:
❌ I have experience on marketing.
The natural version is:
✅ I have experience in marketing.
Similarly:
❌ She has experience on teaching.
✅ She has experience in teaching.
Cambridge’s English Grammar Today specifically gives experience in as the appropriate form for activities such as teaching and working, while warning against using experience on in those structures.
However, on can occur naturally when the structure is different.
For example:
- I have experience working on websites.
- She has experience working on marketing campaigns.
- He has experience working on construction projects.
Notice the difference.
The natural structure is often:
experience + working on + project/task
rather than:
experience on + project/task
Comparison Table
| Form | Type | Meaning | Example | Correct/Incorrect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Experience in | Common standard expression | Experience in a field or activity | I have experience in marketing. | ✅ Correct |
| Experience in | Common standard expression | Knowledge in a subject | She has experience in finance. | ✅ Correct |
| Experience in | Common standard expression | Skill in a profession | He has experience in teaching. | ✅ Correct |
| Experience on | Less common expression | Can refer to work involving a specific thing in limited contexts | He has experience on the machine. | ⚠️ Context-dependent |
| Experience on | Incorrect for many fields | Used instead of “experience in” | I have experience on marketing. | ❌ Incorrect |
| Experience on | Incorrect for many activities | Used instead of “experience in” | She has experience on teaching. | ❌ Incorrect |
| Experience working on | Natural expression | Experience doing work on a project or task | I have experience working on websites. | ✅ Correct |
| Experience with | Natural expression | Familiarity or practical use of a tool/system | I have experience with WordPress. | ✅ Correct |
Correct Meanings and Uses
1. Use “Experience In” for a Field
One of the most common uses of experience in is to describe professional or academic fields.
Examples:
- I have experience in graphic design.
- She has experience in accounting.
- He has experience in education.
- They have experience in software development.
- We need someone with experience in sales.
Sentence Breakdown
Consider this sentence:
I have experience in graphic design.
- I = subject
- have = verb
- experience = noun
- in = preposition
- graphic design = field
The word in shows the area where the person has experience.
This is why:
✅ I have experience in graphic design.
is natural.
But:
❌ I have experience on graphic design.
is not the normal way to express the same idea.
2. Use “Experience In” for Activities
Experience in can also be used with activities.
Examples:
- She has experience in teaching.
- He has experience in writing.
- I have experience in managing teams.
- They have experience in organizing events.
- We have experience in working with international clients.
The activity is treated as an area in which someone has gained knowledge or skill.
Cambridge gives examples such as experience in teaching and explains that experience in can be used with activities and fields.
Example
She has five years of experience in teaching English.
This means that teaching English is an activity or professional area in which she has developed skill.
3. Use “Experience In” for Subjects
You can also use experience in when discussing an area of study or knowledge.
Examples:
- He has experience in computer science.
- She has experience in psychology.
- I have experience in business management.
- They have experience in data analysis.
Here, in introduces the subject or area.
4. Use “Experience In” in Professional Writing
Experience in is especially common in résumés, job applications, LinkedIn profiles, and professional documents.
Examples:
- Experience in customer service
- Experience in social media management
- Experience in SEO
- Experience in graphic design
- Experience in WordPress development
- Experience in content writing
A résumé might say:
Professional Skills
- 2 years of experience in SEO
- Experience in content writing
- Experience in WordPress
- Experience in social media management
However, when the object is a particular software tool, experience with may be more natural:
Experience with WordPress and Photoshop
This distinction is useful because English often has several natural ways to express practical experience.
When Can “Experience On” Be Used?
This is where the topic becomes more interesting.
Experience on is not completely impossible in English. However, it is considerably less common than experience in, experience with, or experience working on.
The context matters.
Specific Equipment or Machines
In some contexts, experience on can describe practical experience operating or working on a particular machine, vehicle, or piece of equipment.
For example:
- He has experience on heavy machinery.
- The operator has experience on this type of equipment.
However, many speakers may prefer:
- He has experience with heavy machinery.
- The operator has experience operating this type of equipment.
The alternative often sounds clearer and more natural.
Specific Projects
You may also see experience on in contexts involving particular projects or productions, but a more natural construction is often:
experience working on
For example:
Less natural:
She has experience on several marketing projects.
More natural:
She has experience working on several marketing projects.
The second sentence clearly shows that she participated in those projects.
Specific Tasks
Again, experience working on is usually clearer.
Instead of:
❌ I have experience on website projects.
Use:
✅ I have experience working on website projects.
Or:
✅ I have experience with website development.
Or:
✅ I have experience in web development.
The best choice depends on exactly what you mean.
Experience In vs Experience With vs Experience Working On
Understanding with and working on makes the difference even easier.
Experience In
Use experience in for a broad field, profession, subject, or activity.
Examples:
- experience in marketing
- experience in teaching
- experience in finance
- experience in web development
- experience in graphic design
Experience With
Use experience with when you want to emphasize familiarity with a tool, system, technology, person, process, or thing.
Examples:
- experience with Photoshop
- experience with WordPress
- experience with Excel
- experience with customer-management software
- experience with large databases
For example:
I have experience with Photoshop.
This means you have used Photoshop and are familiar with it.
Experience Working On
Use experience working on when you want to emphasize participation in a particular project, task, or piece of work.
Examples:
- experience working on websites
- experience working on marketing campaigns
- experience working on construction projects
- experience working on mobile applications
- experience working on large databases
Easy Comparison
Field → experience in
I have experience in web development.
Tool → experience with
I have experience with WordPress.
Project → experience working on
I have experience working on WordPress websites.
This three-part rule can help you avoid many mistakes.
Test Tip: How to Choose the Right Preposition
When you are unsure, ask yourself one simple question:
“What am I describing?”
If the answer is a field or area, use in.
Experience in marketing.
If the answer is a tool or system, with is often natural.
Experience with Excel.
If the answer is a specific project or task, use working on.
Experience working on Excel-based reports.
This test is not a mathematical grammar formula, but it is a useful practical guide.
Case Study: A Job Application
Imagine that Sara is applying for a digital marketing position.
She wants to describe her skills in an email.
Incorrect Version
I have three years of experience on digital marketing. I also have experience on social media platforms and experience on several advertising campaigns.
The problem is that experience on digital marketing is not the natural expression for a field.
Improved Version
I have three years of experience in digital marketing. I also have experience with social media platforms and experience working on several advertising campaigns.
This version is clearer because each preposition matches the meaning.
- experience in digital marketing → field
- experience with social media platforms → tools/platforms
- experience working on advertising campaigns → projects
Workplace Conversation
A manager might ask:
Do you have experience in SEO?
A natural answer is:
Yes, I have experience in SEO and content marketing. I also have experience with several SEO tools.
Notice how the prepositions change naturally based on the meaning.
Grammar Rules Explained
Rule 1: “Experience In” Is the Standard Choice for Fields
Use experience in when the following noun names a field, profession, subject, or activity.
Examples:
- experience in medicine
- experience in education
- experience in marketing
- experience in programming
- experience in teaching
This is the most important rule to remember.
Rule 2: Do Not Automatically Replace “In” With “On”
A common mistake is thinking that on can replace in.
It cannot.
For example:
❌ I have experience on accounting.
✅ I have experience in accounting.
❌ She has experience on teaching.
✅ She has experience in teaching.
❌ He has experience on customer service.
✅ He has experience in customer service.
The preposition must match the relationship between experience and the following word or phrase.
Rule 3: “Experience of” Is Also Possible
There is another useful structure:
experience of + noun/gerund
For example:
- experience of working with children
- experience of teaching English
- experience of using different systems
Cambridge explains that experience of is also used, especially with activities and experiences.
So you should not assume that in is the only possible preposition after experience.
Rule 4: “Experience With” Is Often Better for Tools
For technology, software, and systems, with is frequently the clearest choice.
Examples:
- experience with Photoshop
- experience with WordPress
- experience with Excel
- experience with databases
- experience with customer-service software
Instead of forcing on into the sentence, consider whether with expresses your meaning better.
Rule 5: “Experience Working On” Is Excellent for Projects
When you are talking about a particular project, working on is often the most natural construction.
Examples:
- I have experience working on websites.
- She has experience working on advertising campaigns.
- He has experience working on mobile apps.
- They have experience working on international projects.
This structure makes the action very clear.
Common Mistakes
Many mistakes involving experience in vs experience on happen because learners translate directly from another language or choose a preposition based on sound rather than meaning.
Here are some common reasons.
1. Fast Typing ⌨️
When people type quickly, they may choose the first preposition that comes to mind.
They may write:
experience on marketing
instead of:
experience in marketing
A quick proofreading step can fix this.
2. Autocorrect 📱
Autocorrect may sometimes suggest or preserve a word that is grammatically possible in another context but unnatural in the current sentence.
Always read the complete sentence rather than trusting automatic corrections.
3. Lack of Knowledge
English has many preposition combinations that cannot always be predicted.
Learners may know that English uses on with phrases such as:
- work on
- focus on
- depend on
- concentrate on
They may then incorrectly assume that experience on should work in the same way.
4. Direct Translation
A phrase that sounds natural in another language may not translate directly into natural English.
The safest approach is to learn common word combinations as complete phrases.
Similar Grammar Confusions
| Confusion | Correct Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| it’s / its | Depends on meaning | It’s cold. / The dog wagged its tail. |
| your / you’re | Depends on meaning | Your phone is here. / You’re late. |
| their / they’re | Depends on meaning | Their house is large. / They’re home. |
| affect / effect | Depends on function | It affected me. / It had an effect. |
| then / than | Different meanings | First this, then that. / Taller than me. |
| advice / advise | Noun vs verb | Good advice. / I advise you to wait. |
| experience in / experience on | Depends on context | Experience in marketing. |
| accept / except | Different meanings | Accept the offer. / Everyone except John. |
These pairs are confusing because the words can look or sound similar, but their grammatical roles and meanings are different.
Usage in Different Contexts
Everyday Conversation
In everyday speech, experience in is common when discussing someone’s skills.
Examples:
Do you have experience in cooking?
Yes, I have some experience in cooking.
Does she have experience in teaching?
Yes, she has several years of experience in teaching.
For specific activities, experience with may also be natural.
Do you have experience with children?
Yes, I have worked with children for several years.
Professional Writing
Professional writing requires extra care because preposition errors can make a résumé or application sound less polished.
Use:
- experience in marketing
- experience in sales
- experience in accounting
- experience in customer service
- experience with Excel
- experience with WordPress
- experience working on large projects
Résumé Example
Professional Experience
- 3 years of experience in digital marketing
- Experience in SEO and content writing
- Experience with WordPress
- Experience with Google Analytics
- Experience working on large content projects
This style is clear, concise, and professional.
Creative Writing
Creative writing gives authors more freedom.
For example:
Years of experience in the theater had taught her patience.
Or:
His experience working on the old ship changed the way he saw the sea.
The focus is not only grammar but also meaning and style.
Social Media and Texting
Informal writing often contains shortcuts and grammar mistakes.
Someone might write:
Got experience on websites.
For casual communication, the meaning may still be understood.
However, if the same sentence appears in a professional profile, it is better to write:
I have experience in web development.
Or:
I have experience working on websites.
Professional communication deserves greater accuracy.
Why It Matters
Choosing the correct preposition may seem like a small detail, but small details can improve the clarity of your writing.
1. Clarity
Compare:
I have experience in marketing.
with:
I have experience on marketing.
The first sentence immediately identifies marketing as the field of experience.
2. Professionalism
Correct grammar is especially important in:
- résumés
- cover letters
- job applications
- business emails
- websites
- professional profiles
3. Digital Communication
Today, people communicate through websites, social media, email, online forms, and messaging apps.
A short sentence may represent you professionally.
As a useful reminder:
Clear words create clear communication.
Good grammar does not need to be complicated. It needs to communicate the intended meaning accurately.
Special Exception and Edge Cases
There is no simple rule saying that experience on is never possible.
The important point is that experience on is much less common and more context-dependent than experience in.
For example, in certain contexts involving equipment or machines, you may encounter:
He has experience on heavy machinery.
However, many modern speakers may prefer:
He has experience with heavy machinery.
or:
He has experience operating heavy machinery.
Similarly, instead of:
She has experience on several projects.
a clearer option is:
She has experience working on several projects.
This is why grammar should not be reduced to a rule such as “on is always wrong.” The better lesson is:
Use the preposition that accurately expresses the relationship you mean.
For most professional fields and activities, that preposition is in.
Experience In vs Experience On: More Examples
Correct “Experience In” Examples
- I have experience in marketing.
- She has experience in teaching.
- He has experience in web development.
- They have experience in customer service.
- We need experience in project management.
- She has experience in graphic design.
- He has experience in financial analysis.
- I have experience in content writing.
- They have experience in event planning.
- She has experience in software development.
Better Alternatives to “Experience On”
Instead of:
❌ I have experience on Photoshop.
Use:
✅ I have experience with Photoshop.
Instead of:
❌ I have experience on WordPress.
Use:
✅ I have experience with WordPress.
Instead of:
❌ I have experience on marketing campaigns.
Use:
✅ I have experience working on marketing campaigns.
Instead of:
❌ I have experience on web development.
Use:
✅ I have experience in web development.
Quick Recap Checklist
Use this checklist whenever you are unsure.
| Question | If Yes → Use |
|---|---|
| Am I talking about a field or profession? | experience in |
| Am I talking about a subject or area? | experience in |
| Am I talking about an activity? | experience in |
| Am I talking about a tool or software? | experience with |
| Am I talking about a specific project? | experience working on |
| Am I talking about operating equipment? | experience with / experience operating |
| Am I about to write “experience on” before a field? | ❌ Recheck it |
Practice Examples
Choose the best expression:
1. I have five years of experience ___ digital marketing.
Answer: in
I have five years of experience in digital marketing.
2. She has experience ___ Photoshop.
Answer: with
She has experience with Photoshop.
3. He has experience ___ several large construction projects.
Answer: working on
He has experience working on several large construction projects.
FAQs
Is “experience in” correct?
Yes. Experience in is the standard and very common expression for talking about experience in a field, profession, subject, activity, or area.
Example:
I have experience in accounting.
Is “experience on” correct?
It can be correct in certain specific contexts, but it is much less common than experience in, experience with, or experience working on. It should not normally replace experience in when you are describing a field or activity.
Should I say “experience in marketing” or “experience on marketing”?
Say experience in marketing.
She has five years of experience in marketing.
“Experience on marketing” is not the normal choice when marketing is the field of experience.
Should I say “experience in Photoshop” or “experience with Photoshop”?
Experience with Photoshop is usually the more natural choice because Photoshop is a software tool.
I have experience with Photoshop.
You could also say:
I have experience in graphic design using Photoshop.
Here, in graphic design identifies the field, while using Photoshop identifies the tool.
Is “experience working on” correct?
Yes. Experience working on is a natural way to describe participation in a specific project, task, or piece of work.
Example:
I have experience working on large websites.
Which is better: “experience in” or “experience on”?
The answer depends on your meaning. Use experience in for fields, subjects, and activities. Use experience with for tools and systems, and experience working on for specific projects or tasks.
Conclusion
Understanding experience in vs experience on becomes much easier when you focus on meaning rather than memorizing isolated words.
Use experience in when you are talking about a field, profession, subject, activity, or area of knowledge. For example, you can say experience in marketing, experience in teaching, or experience in web development.
Be more careful with experience on. Although it can appear in specific contexts, it is not normally the right replacement for experience in. When discussing tools or software, experience with is often more natural. When discussing projects or tasks, experience working on is usually clearer.
The most useful rule is simple:
Field → experience in.
Tool → experience with.
Project → experience working on.
Once you learn this pattern, you can write more naturally in conversations, résumés, emails, applications, and professional profiles. When in doubt, ask yourself what kind of experience you are describing.
Choose the preposition that matches the meaning, and your sentence will be clear.
Hi, I’m Matthew Collins, a writer and editor at Gramcora. I create helpful content on grammar, spelling, and writing techniques to make learning English easier and more enjoyable for readers worldwide.
