[Grammar] Which is correct? "on/in the face of - Person's face"?

[ceciliafontes]

She sees something strange on the face of Anne.
She sees something strange in the face of Anne.
She sees something strange on Anne's face.
She sees something strange in Anne's face.

Which sentence is correct?

P.S. "Something strange" is dark circles.

 

[emsr2d2]

Given the context you gave (dark circles), I would use "on" although I would expect to see dark circles around her eyes, not on her face. Are we talking about the normal dark circles around the eyes?

She sees dark circles around Anne's eyes.
She sees dark circles on Anne's face.

We use "in" and "on" when talking about signs of an emotion.

I could see it in her face - she was devastated.
Her confusion was obvious on her face.
(Her confusion was written all over her face.)

 

[SoothingDave]

For something physically there, it is "on" her face.

 

[ceciliafontes]

Given the context you gave (dark circles), I would use "on" although I would expect to see dark circles around her eyes, not on her face. Are we talking about the normal dark circles around the eyes?

She sees dark circles around Anne's eyes.
She sees dark circles on Anne's face.

We use "in" and "on" when talking about signs of an emotion.

I could see it in her face - she was devastated.
Her confusion was obvious on her face.
(Her confusion was written all over her face.)

It's a dialogue (screenplay). She only says that is dark circles after.

So... "She sees something strange on Anne's face." is correct?

 

[emsr2d2]

So one of your characters actually speaks the line "She sees something strange on Anne's face"?

 

[ceciliafontes]

So one of your characters actually speaks the line "She sees something strange on Anne's face"?

No, this is the description of the scene!

 

[emsr2d2]

Your posts to do with your screenplay are becoming very confusing. You really need to tell us whether the sentences you are querying are part of the dialogue or part of the stage directions etc.

 

[ceciliafontes]

Your posts to do with your screenplay are becoming very confusing. You really need to tell us whether the sentences you are querying are part of the dialogue or part of the stage directions etc.

Example:

LISA: Oh, my god! What is this?

Lisa sees something strange on Anne's face.

ANNE: What?

 

[emsr2d2]

If you are consistent and you always use that format in your posts, it will be much clearer to us what you are getting at.

 

[Tdol]

Example:

LISA: Oh, my god! What is this?

Lisa sees something strange on Anne's face.

ANNE: What?

This would mean that there was something physically on her face and not a strange expression to me.

 

[emsr2d2]

This would mean that there was something physically on her face and not a strange expression to me.

I agree but the OP said that "something strange" refers to dark circles, which are something physical.