If you are unsure whether to say “experience in” or “experience on,” the usual choice is “experience in.” We use experience in to talk about a field, subject, profession, activity, or area of work. For example, “She has experience in marketing” and “He has experience in teaching.” Experience on is much less common and is generally used when on introduces a specific topic, project, or task, especially in phrases such as “experience working on a project.” Understanding this difference can help you write more natural English in resumes, cover letters, interviews, academic writing, and everyday communication.
Both expressions can appear in English, but they do not usually serve the same grammatical purpose. The important point is to consider what comes after the preposition. If you are describing expertise or background in a particular area, in is normally the natural choice. If you are describing work involving a particular project, subject, or task, on may be appropriate.
Quick Answer
Use “experience in” when talking about a field, skill, profession, industry, or area of knowledge: “I have experience in finance.” Use “experience on” mainly when referring to work or involvement with a specific project, task, or topic: “She has experience working on international projects.” In most professional contexts, experience in is the safer choice.
Why Do People Confuse “Experience In” and “Experience On”?
The confusion happens because English uses several prepositions after experience, and the correct choice depends on what you want to describe.
Compare:
- I have experience in customer service.
- I have experience in software development.
- I have experience working on large projects.
- He has experience on the project.
The first two describe a field or area of expertise. The third describes involvement in specific projects.
A useful rule is:
Experience in = an area, field, skill, or profession
Experience on = involvement with a particular project, task, or topic
However, experience on by itself can sound less natural in many contexts. Often, English speakers prefer experience working on or experience with.
Experience In
What Does “Experience In” Mean?
Experience in means having knowledge, practice, or professional background in a particular field, activity, subject, or area.
It is the most common structure when describing professional experience.
Examples
- I have experience in marketing.
- She has experience in teaching.
- He has experience in customer service.
- We need someone with experience in accounting.
- They have extensive experience in software development.
Common Structures
You can use experience in with:
- Industries: experience in healthcare
- Professions: experience in teaching
- Skills: experience in programming
- Activities: experience in public speaking
- Business areas: experience in sales
- Subjects: experience in mathematics
Experience On
What Does “Experience On” Mean?
Experience on can be used when on refers to a particular project, assignment, task, subject, or piece of work.
However, experience on is less common than experience in in general professional descriptions.
For example:
- She has experience working on international projects.
- He gained experience working on a research study.
- They have experience working on construction projects.
In these sentences, working on makes the relationship clearer and more natural.
Is “Experience On” Grammatically Correct?
Yes, on can be correct in certain contexts, but it is not normally the best replacement for in.
For example:
He has experience on several construction projects.
This can be understood, but:
He has experience working on several construction projects.
is often more natural and specific.
Experience In vs Experience On: Comparison Table
| Expression | Main Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| experience in | Field, profession, subject, or area | She has experience in teaching. |
| experience on | Specific project or task | He has experience on the project. |
| experience working on | Direct involvement in projects/tasks | She has experience working on software projects. |
| experience with | Familiarity or practical use of something | I have experience with Excel. |
When to Use “Experience In” vs “Experience On”
Use “Experience In” for Fields and Areas
Use experience in when you are describing someone’s background in a broad area.
Examples:
- experience in finance
- experience in education
- experience in engineering
- experience in marketing
- experience in healthcare
- experience in management
Example:
She has five years of experience in digital marketing.
Use “Experience Working On” for Projects
When you want to emphasize participation in a specific project or task, experience working on is usually clearer.
Example:
He has experience working on large construction projects.
Use “Experience With” for Tools and Systems
When talking about familiarity with a tool, software, technology, or system, experience with is often the most natural option.
Example:
I have experience with Microsoft Excel.
10+ Examples of “Experience In” and “Experience On”
- I have experience in customer service.
- She has experience in graphic design.
- He has extensive experience in sales.
- They have experience in international business.
- My sister has experience in teaching English.
- We are looking for someone with experience in project management.
- He has experience working on mobile applications.
- She has experience working on research projects.
- They gained experience working on a large construction project.
- I have experience with database management systems.
- She has experience with several programming languages.
- He has experience working on international development programs.
Notice that in commonly introduces a broad area, while working on identifies a particular project or activity.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using “On” for Every Area
❌ I have experience on marketing.
✅ I have experience in marketing.
Marketing is a field, so in is appropriate.
Mistake 2: Using “In” for a Specific Project
❌ She has experience in the new construction project.
This may be understandable, but if you mean direct participation, a clearer choice is:
✅ She has experience working on the new construction project.
Mistake 3: Forgetting “With” for Tools
❌ I have experience in Microsoft Excel.
While this can sometimes be interpreted broadly, the more natural choice when referring specifically to software is:
✅ I have experience with Microsoft Excel.
Mistake 4: Confusing “Experience in” With “Experienced in”
Both structures are possible:
- I have experience in accounting.
- I am experienced in accounting.
The first uses the noun experience. The second uses the adjective experienced.
Memory Trick
Remember:
IN = FIELD
ON = PROJECT
WITH = TOOL
For example:
- in marketing
- in engineering
- on a project
- on an assignment
- with Excel
- with Photoshop
A simple sentence to remember is:
I have experience in a field, work on a project, and use experience with a tool.
American vs British English
There is no major American-versus-British difference in the basic use of experience in.
Both varieties commonly use:
- experience in teaching
- experience in business
- experience in engineering
- experience in management
Both American and British English also use working on for projects and tasks:
She has experience working on international projects.
The main difference you encounter is therefore usually context and natural phrasing, rather than a regional grammar rule.
Similar Words and Expressions
Several expressions are related to experience in and experience on.
Experience in
Used for a field or area:
He has experience in finance.
Experience with
Used for familiarity with something:
She has experience with accounting software.
Experience working on
Used for active participation in a project:
He has experience working on government projects.
Experienced in
An adjective meaning skilled or knowledgeable in an area:
She is experienced in marketing.
Experience of
Common in British English, particularly when referring to having encountered or undergone something:
He has experience of working with children.
Final Verdict
“Experience in” is the standard choice when you are talking about a field, profession, subject, or area of expertise.
Use “experience working on” when you want to describe involvement in a particular project or task. “Experience on” can be grammatical in specific contexts, but it is less broadly useful and can sound unnatural when used simply to describe a field.
For resumes, applications, and professional writing, these patterns are especially useful:
- experience in marketing
- experience in teaching
- experience in software development
- experience working on large projects
- experience with Microsoft Excel
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it correct to say “experience in”?
Yes. Experience in is correct and very common when referring to a field, profession, skill, or area of knowledge.
She has experience in accounting.
Is “experience on” correct English?
It can be correct in particular contexts, especially when on refers to a specific project or task. However, experience working on is often more natural.
Should I say “experience in” or “experience on a project”?
For a specific project, experience working on a project is usually the clearest wording.
He has experience working on several engineering projects.
Is it “experience in marketing” or “experience on marketing”?
The natural choice is experience in marketing because marketing is a field.
Should I say “experience in” or “experience with” software?
Usually use experience with when referring to familiarity or practical use of specific software.
I have experience with Adobe Photoshop.
Is “experienced in” correct?
Yes. Experienced in is an adjective phrase.
She is experienced in project management.
What preposition should I use after “experience”?
It depends on the meaning:
- experience in + field/area
- experience with + tool/system/thing
- experience working on + project/task
Remember This
Experience in → fields and areas
Experience working on → projects and tasks
Experience with → tools, systems, and things
I have experience in marketing, experience working on campaigns, and experience with marketing software.
Conclusion
The safest and most common choice for describing professional or academic background is experience in. Use it for fields such as education, finance, marketing, engineering, healthcare, and technology. This structure is especially useful in resumes, cover letters, job applications, and professional conversations.
When you are talking about a particular project or task, experience working on is often more precise than simply saying experience on. For tools and software, experience with is usually appropriate. Choosing the preposition according to the context makes your English clearer, more natural, and easier to understand.
David Henry is a language enthusiast and content writer specializing in synonyms, vocabulary, and word meanings. He creates clear, engaging resources that help readers improve their writing, communication, and English skills.
