The first item on the statement. vs The first item of the statement.

[Gheon]

Business English Lesson, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #152 "Income Statements", question 2

The first item on the statement is the total amount of sales of products or services; this is often referred to as ......... sales.

(a) gross
(b) mass
(c) overall
(d) whole

Business English Lesson, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #152 "Income Statements", answer 2

The first item on the statement is the total amount of sales of products or services; this is often referred to as gross sales.

Correct answer: (a) gross
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Curious, whether we necessarily have to use the preposition on in:
"The first item on the statement"
or we just as well say:
The first item in the statement
The first item of the statement
& the meaning will be the same?!
_________________
I find your Lack of Faith disturbing!
The Force is out there!

[Sahid59]

...

may it is referred as one of the ITEMS in the REPORT statement....that is why ' on ' is used....it all depends on contextual meaning....

..
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Sahid59

Better tomorrow with better English

[Gheon]

I have a sneaky suspicion that the use of the preposition on is a characteristic feature of economics-related language.
F.i. In yet another sentence of the same test we can see:
Depreciation expenses the wear and tear on assets like machinery, equipment and furnishings.
_________________
I find your Lack of Faith disturbing!
The Force is out there!

[Beeesneees]

Hi Gheon,
It might help if you think of it this way.
You would not say "I write in the paper" (unless you mean something like a newspaper which has an inside) or "I write of the paper". You would write on the paper.

A statement is a paper on which an itemised list is written. Like any other paper, you write the list on it, not in it or of it, therefore when talking about the items, the correct structure is also to use 'on'.

I know that a rule of English which is logical might be a bit of a shock. :)
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Cheers m' dears!

[Gheon]

Thanks for the hint on items. It's been really helpful, though I must admit that sometimes it's much easier just to remember than to look for any other explanation. But IMHO the positive side of all those searches is that after devoting so much attention to this or that case one would never forget the correct variant.
_________________
I find your Lack of Faith disturbing!
The Force is out there!

[Gheon]

[Beeesneees]

Ah yes... you're saying I'm, spaced out! :D
_________________
Cheers m' dears!

[Gheon]