AT, ON, IN for places.

Is he at the house or in the house?

written by Bill Teach

This week’s tips regards the use of AT, ON and IN before location and geographical position. There are differences between American and British English which will be pointed out during the lesson.

Before location:

When we mention an address the prepositions AT, ON, IN are used accordingly:

AT: address with numbers

• I live at 717 Bay street.

ON: use before names of streets, roads, avenues, etc. without numbers.  (in British English IN is used)

• He lives on Bay street. (American)
• It is in Axis avenue. (British)

IN: used before larger areas (country, region, state, city etc.)

• He lives in Jamaica.
• It is in the south of Russia.

Before places / position

AT – We use AT before an exact place or a specific point on a line.

• I met her at Joe’s.
• We arrive at Union station at around 2pm. (specific point on a train line) 

ON – When we think of being on the top or over something we use ON: It can be a position over an area or a line.

• They went punting on the river before the traditional dinner.
• The city stands on the banks of the river.

IN – If somebody or something is inside a building, an area or is submerged we say IN.

• I was in the room when I heard the noise.
• She was in the tunnel for hours before she realized it was too dark to go home.
• They were swimming in the river when the crocodile attacked.

Before places that involves certain activities:

Most of the times, when we think of an establishment in which an activity takes place, we use AT. However, we use IN if it is referred to being in the inner part of a building, compare: 

• You can come in at any time. I will be at the office all day long. (the place I work)
• I left my jacket in the office. (inside the room)

Sometimes there are differences between American and British English.

Examples:

• I am in school / college (American English - means that you are enrolled in an institution)
• I am at school / college (British English - means that you are enrolled in an institution)

However,

• I am at University. (Both American and British English)

Notice: We don’t use any articles before school, college, university when the meaning is to be ‘enrolled’.

However, when the preposition refers to position, there are no differences between American and British English.

• I am in the school (you are in the building)
• I am at my sons’ school (area of the school not necessarily inside the building)
• Those people were at his house the other day. (it could be outside by the doorstep).
• Those people were in his house the other day. (inside the house)

Before names of institutions or description we use AT.

• They work at Nestlé. (name)
• I study at the local Community College. (description)

This is it for now. If you have any other questions regarding the use of AT, ON, IN, let me know.