Based off

The expression "based off" or worse "based off of"  (used when a writer really means "based on") should be banned from your scientific lexicon. It is not only non-existent in the English language, it makes no sense.

Take this example: "Good scientific writing is based on sound knowledge of the English language". The science student is secure in the knowledge that scientific writing is fixed on the rock-solid foundation of his/her knowledge of the English language.

However, as the image below shows, when "Scientific writing is based off of knowledge of the English language", there is nothing there to hold up good scientific writing.  It's up in the air. The science student and Whiskers the kitten live in a very precarious state. What follows is not pretty for the science student or for Whiskers..

So keep in mind that the expression   "based off" is no substitute for "based on", and actually means the opposite.

More importantly, remember that every time you use the expression "based off", a kitten dies. If only for the sake of kittens, please "use based on" instead of "based off".