walk on the street vs. walk in the street

**munchkin2618** · 30-Jan-2012, 13:51

Which is correct? I usually say walk on the street. But is it also right to say walk in the street?

**TheParser** · 30-Jan-2012, 14:03

NOT A TEACHER

(1) I believe that here in the United States, most people say:

(a) Walk on the street. = Walk on the SIDEWALK.

(i) Pardon this crude example, but it might help you remember: sometimes prostitutes are called streetwalkers.

(b) Walk in the street. = You are literally (actually) walking in the area used by automobiles. Mothers will often warn their children: Don't play in the street!

**SirGod** · 30-Jan-2012, 14:20

* Not a teacher

Also, as an addition to TheParser's great post, the British version of "sidewalk" is "pavement".

**munchkin2618** · 30-Jan-2012, 15:39

Thanks ~

**Barb_D** · 30-Jan-2012, 18:16

Please do note that there is a difference between American use and everyone else in this in/on usage. An American would tell you that walking IN the street is dangerous.

**BobSmith** · 30-Jan-2012, 18:49

Originally Posted by SirGod

Also, as an addition to TheParser's great post, the British version of "sidewalk" is "pavement".

[not a teacher]

Interesting, to me, pavement is just another word for the street's surface (i.e. paved surface). In fact, if I fell on the sidewalk, I might say, "I tripped on the sidewalk and hit my head on the cement." It wouldn't dawn on me to use "pavement".

**bhaisahab** · 30-Jan-2012, 19:06

Originally Posted by BobSmith

[not a teacher]

Interesting, to me, pavement is just another word for the street's surface (i.e. paved surface). In fact, if I fell on the sidewalk, I might say, "I tripped on the sidewalk and hit my head on the cement." It wouldn't dawn on me to use "pavement".

In BrE we would say "concrete" rather than "cement". A "pavement" is so called because it's made up of "paving slabs".

**SirGod** · 30-Jan-2012, 19:12

Isn't cement one of the materials (the main one, actually) mixed up to make concrete?

**bhaisahab** · 30-Jan-2012, 19:19

Originally Posted by SirGod

Isn't cement one of the materials (the main one, actually) mixed up to make concrete?

Yes, it is.

**SirGod** · 30-Jan-2012, 19:24

Originally Posted by bhaisahab

Yes, it is.

So, can they be synonyms (depending on the dialect)?

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