Difference Between Aboard & Onboard

Key Difference – Aboard vs Onboard

Aboard and onboard are two words that can often be confused. Both words are commonly used when discussing trains, ships, aircrafts, and other passenger vehicles. The main difference between aboard and onboard is that aboard is used to describe the entry into a passenger vehicle, while onboard is used to refer to the situation or position of something inside a passenger vehicle.

What Does Aboard Mean?

Aboard can function as either a preposition or an adverb. It is typically used with reference to trains, ships, aircrafts, or other passenger vehicles, and can convey the same meaning as on or into.

Examples of aboard as a preposition include:

– We climbed aboard the ship, following the captains’ instructions.
– It took her some time to realize that she had climbed aboard the wrong train.
– How many sailors were aboard that ship when it sailed from this port?

Examples of aboard as an adverb include:

– The train went off the rail, injuring 56 passengers aboard.
– The captain welcomed all aboard.
– The aircraft crashed, killing 145 passengers aboard.

Aboard can also be used figuratively to refer to an entry in or into a group, association, or organization.

What Does Onboard Mean?

Onboard is an adjective that describes something available or situated on board an aircraft, ship, or other vehicles.

Examples of onboard include:

– The aircraft is controlled by an onboard computer system.
– His new car came with an onboard television and computer system.
– He ordered meals from the onboard food services.

Onboard can also be written as on-board or as two separate words when it is not used as an adjective, such as in the following examples:

– Smoking is not allowed on board.
– There were no females on board.

What is the difference between Aboard and Onboard?

The differences between aboard and onboard can be summarized as follows:

– Meaning: Aboard refers to entering or being on trains, ships, aircrafts, or other passenger vehicles, while onboard refers to something available or situated on such vehicles.
– Usage: Aboard is used to describe the entry into a passenger vehicle, whereas onboard is used to refer to the situation or position of something inside a passenger vehicle.
– Grammatical Category: Aboard can function as an adverb or a preposition, while onboard is mainly used as an adjective.
– Figurative Meaning: Aboard can be used in a figurative sense (e.g., entry into an organization), but onboard is not used in a figurative sense.