at/in the hospital

[magdalena]

How to explain the difference between in the hospital /at the hospital?

[Casiopea]

"at" refers to a location, whereas "in" refers to the inside. The former, "at", could refer to either the outside or the inside of a building. Both of these are correct:

I'm at the hospital. <The speaker could be inside or outside the building>
I'm in the hospital.

Speakers might use "at" instead of "in" when location itself is more important than being inside that location and doing something; i.e., waiting for the doctor. For example, a speaker, not all, might use "at" and "in" this way,

I'm at the hospital, waiting for the doctor. <the location is important>
I'm in the hospital, waiting for the doctor. <the action is important>

All the best.

[Dr. Jamshid Ibrahim]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

"at" refers to a location, whereas "in" refers to the inside. The former, "at", could refer to either the outside or the inside of a building. Both of these are correct:

I'm at the hospital. <The speaker could be inside or outside the building>
I'm in the hospital.

Speakers might use "at" instead of "in" when location itself is more important than being inside that location and doing something; i.e., waiting for the doctor. For example, a speaker, not all, might use "at" and "in" this way,

I'm at the hospital, waiting for the doctor. <the location is important>
I'm in the hospital, waiting for the doctor. <the action is important>

All the best.

1. I think Casiopea when you come to at it is not really a question of inside and outside. At views place/time as a point:
Time seen as a point: at 8 O'clock
Time seen as a period in the morning

Place seen as a point (meeting point) at the doctor's /at the restaurant
Place seen spatially (three dimensional)in the office

2. The commercial @ is given in email addresses perhaps because it is the point where we meet others

3. Since at is a point it takes aim (targets). No wonder at comes with verbs which are aggressive. Compare
She shouted at me / she shouted to me
He threw the ball at me / He threw the ball to me
He came at me with a knífe /He came to me
Best
Jamshid

[Casiopea]

True, true. There's more than one side to "at". It doesn't occur with place nouns only.

Great addition.

[Romeo4755]

It seems to me I grasped the idea.

We usually refer to organizations (meaning that we've come to the place to perform some corresponding actions, not to find a shelter from the rain or to paint the walls :) ) - AT:

at the post office, at the hairdresser's, at a restaurant, etc.

So why does Murphy Grammar recommend IN with hospital?


As far as I understand now, you are IN hospital if you're supposed to stay there for some days (imprisoned there in a way - the idea of being inside some place).

But we say: He's at AT hospital, having his leg being bandaged. (he's a patient, but not imprisoned, just a routine).

Again, we say IN prison.

[Anglika]

Originally Posted by Romeo4755

It seems to me I grasped the idea.

We usually refer to organizations (meaning that we've come to the place to perform some corresponding actions, not to find a shelter from the rain or to paint the walls :) ) - AT:

at the post office, at the hairdresser's, at a restaurant, etc.

So why does Murphy Grammar recommend IN with hospital?


As far as I understand now, you are IN hospital if you're supposed to stay there for some days (imprisoned there in a way - the idea of being inside some place).

But we say: He's at AT hospital, having his leg being bandaged. (he's a patient, but not imprisoned, just a routine).

Again, we say IN prison.

Essentially, as you suggest, to be "in hospital" implies that you are being treated for a condition and that the treatment will last a period of time that will require you to stay in the hospital: "She is in hospital having treatment for leukemia".

However, if you are only in for a short time and will not be required to stay there - emergency treatment, a clinic, visiting a patient - then you are "at the hospital".

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by Anglika

Essentially, as you suggest, to be "in hospital" implies that you are being treated for a condition and that the treatment will last a period of time that will require you to stay in the hospital: "She is in hospital having treatment for leukemia".

With 'the' added for NaE.

"She is in the hospital having treatment for leukemia".

[Romeo4755]

However, if you are only in for a short time and will not be required to stay there - emergency treatment, a clinic, visiting a patient - then you are "at the hospital".

Originally Posted by riverkid

With 'the' added for NaE.

"She is in the hospital having treatment for leukemia".

Sorry for a certain lack of wits - but here (as sometimes in such threads) is s bit of confusion.
What are we talking about?
Is the point that - talking about a short stay at a hospital for bandaging not only we should use 'AT' but 'the' as well?

! By no means I want to hurt the feelings of AE or CE, but let's finish with the British variants first :) .

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by Romeo4755

Sorry for a certain lack of wits - but here (as sometimes in such threads) is s bit of confusion.
What are we talking about?
Is the point that - talking about a short stay at a hospital for bandaging not only we should use 'AT' but 'the' as well?

! By no means I want to hurt the feelings of AE or CE, but let's finish with the British variants first :) .

The only difference between BrE and NaE, it seems, is that for a prolonged stay, we use 'the', whereas BrE doesn't.

BrE - She's in hospital for an operation.

NaE - She's in the hospital for an operation.

[Romeo4755]

Originally Posted by riverkid

The only difference between BrE and NaE, it seems, is that for a prolonged stay, we use 'the', whereas BrE doesn't.

BrE - She's in hospital for an operation.

NaE - She's in the hospital for an operation.

:)
I see. But the question was: should I (in BE) always use 'IN hospital' without the article while using 'the' every time I say 'AT' ('at the hospital')/
Is 'at hospital' wrong?