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Nate asks: What are the proper usages of the words “in” and “on” in a sentence? I often confuse the two. Here are some examples: “The boat is in/on the water,” “We are in/on the planet,” “We’re going to the concert in/on July 1st.” The use of prepositions in English is frequently idiomatic. General guidelines exist, but be prepared to learn individual expressions in which the preposition does not adhere to the guidelines. In the case of the prepositions in and on, here are the most usual uses. Inin mainly denotes “rest at”: PLACE: He lives in the country. He lives in Chicago. (BUT, He lives at 2300 Wabash Ave.) Onon indicates proximity and position above or outside: PLACE: He sat on the fence. The examples given in the question:
But
As for the example about the boat, either is correct, according to what is meant:
However, it would be unidiomatic to say The ship is in the ocean or in the sea, unless you mean that it has sunk. The ship is on the sea. Related to the question of when to use in is that of when to use into. While in denotes the state of being “at rest” in a place, or at least being (in a sense) surrounded by something, into denotes motion towards:
When deciding whether to use in or into, ask yourself if the person or thing you are talking about is moving from one place to another. If so, use into. More about prepositions in later posts. Stay tuned! Video RecapWant to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:
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Try It Free Now When would you use a semicolon?Use a semicolon to join two related independent clauses in place of a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet). Make sure when you use the semicolon that the connection between the two independent clauses is clear without the coordinating conjunction.
How do you use dashes in a sentence?Use dashes to mark the beginning and end of a series, which might otherwise get confused, with the rest of the sentence: Example: The three female characters—the wife, the nun, and the jockey—are the incarnation of excellence. Dashes are also used to mark the interruption of a sentence in dialogue: Example: “Help!
What are 3 ways to use a semicolon?3 Ways to Use a Semicolon. Use a semicolon to connect related independent clauses. An independent clause is a sentence that communicates a complete thought and makes sense on its own. ... . Use a semicolon with a conjunctive adverb or transitional phrase. ... . Use semicolons to separate items in a list.. When should we use comma in a sentence?Use commas to separate independent clauses when they are joined by any of these seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet. Example: I love vanilla ice cream, but my brother prefers chocolate. Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c) words that come before the main clause.
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