"on" more professional than "about"?

Is it true that "on" is more professional than "about" when it's used as "regarding"? I've heard tons of on to replace about but what do you think if the difference?

ex)It's a book on(about) the Chinese economy.

1. It's a book on the Chinese economy.
2. It's a book about the Chinese economy.

Either way it is fine. #2 sounds more scholarly to me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by keannu

Is it true that "on" is more professional than "about" when it's used as "regarding"? I've heard tons of on to replace about but what do you think if the difference?

ex)It's a book on(about) the Chinese economy.

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There are both good. I wouldn't say the distinction is important.
Generally, we'd say, in a casual conversation, "What's the book about?", not "What's the book on?"
(Don't delete "the".)

:up:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bamako3

1. It's a book on the:?: Chinese economy.
2. It's a book about the:?: Chinese economy.

Either way it is fine. #2 sounds more scholarly to me.

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The 'the' is fine here. If it was a book on economics, you could strike out a 'the'. But it's not; it's a book about the economy of a particular place.

b