word choice - ”Demand in/on/for something”


I am not sure whether to use in, on, or for after the word demand in the following sentence:



The continuing demand on high-quality software that is reusable and easy to maintain and modify after it has been released was a driving force throughout the 1980’s



How should one deal with this demand in/on/for issue in general?



Answer



In that sentence, you would use demand for.


You use demand for when some entity has want of a resource, as in supply-and-demand economics. Examples would include a high demand for candy canes at Christmastime, or a high demand for beachfront cottages during the summertime.


Demand on is used when a situation is challenging, difficult, or pressure-packed for some entity. For example, at some restaurants, there is a high demand on the kitchen staff during the noontime lunch hour.


In some cases, both could be used, although the meaning would be different. For example:



At tax season, there is a high demand on accountants.



means that accountants work long hours during tax season, but:



At tax season, there is a high demand for accountants.



means that many people hire accountants at tax time.


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