Correct Usage home or at home?

Which is really correct -
"Why don't you drop in tomorrow I will be home in the evening?"
or
"Why don't you drop in tomorrow I will be at home in the evening?"


A V Veerkar

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Originally Posted by A V Veerkar

Which is really correct -
"Why don't you drop in tomorrow I will be home in the evening?"
or
"Why don't you drop in tomorrow I will be at home in the evening?"


A V Veerkar

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"Why don't you drop in tomorrow I will be at home in the evening?"

Quote:

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Originally Posted by A V Veerkar

Which is really correct -
"Why don't you drop in tomorrow I will be home in the evening?"
or
"Why don't you drop in tomorrow I will be at home in the evening?"


A V Veerkar

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I think both are correct.:-D
I'm not a native speaker of English. If there are any mistakes, please forgive me.:oops:

Both are correct.
"I will be at home" is more formal, more high society. In Victorian and Edwardian times, a lady would be 'at home', meaning that she would receive any callers who wished to drop in for conversation and tea and cucumber sandwiches. If the lady of the house was in, was at home, but not receiving callers, her butler would tell anyone coming to the door, "Her ladyship is not at home." He was not lying - it meant, 'not at home to callers.'

:up: - although that's a rather specialized usage; even today, in Br English, it's possible to use "at home" as noun: 'We need money-raising ideas; Jan has already suggested a sponsored swim, and Mavis is holding an At Home - but we need more.' An 'At Home' is the extended provision of tea-time-ike hospitality; the invitation would say something like

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Mrs Otis will be at home from 3.00 until 5.30pm

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But I agree that 'at home' is more formal. In colloquial usage it may easily be dropped - as for example in the expression that refers to signs of life, but extreme stupidity: "The lights are on, but there's nobody home".

b

Thanks a lot.

A V Veerkar

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Originally Posted by BobK

:up: - although that's a rather specialized usage; even today, in Br English, it's possible to use "at home" as noun: 'We need money-raising ideas; Jan has already suggested a sponsored swim, and Mavis is holding an At Home - but we need more.' An 'At Home' is the extended provision of tea-time-ike hospitality; the invitation would say something like


But I agree that 'at home' is more formal. In colloquial usage it may easily be dropped - as for example in the expression that refers to signs of life, but extreme stupidity: "The lights are on, but there's nobody home".

b

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What do you mean by 'stupidity' here? I know what stupidity is but I'm afraid I don't get your drift. :oops:

Snowcake, a bit slow on the uptake today ;-)

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Originally Posted by Snowcake

What do you mean by 'stupidity' here? I know what stupidity is but I'm afraid I don't get your drift. :oops:

Snowcake, a bit slow on the uptake today ;-)

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My fault - I wasn't clear enough; it often happens when one's syntax requires an abstract noun; I should know by now! ;-)

When someone is behaving in a placid or docile or lethargic or inattentive or distracted or stupid way (say in a meeting or a lesson) the presenter/teacher may say - for example

'..That's my view anyway. John, what do you think? John? Are you with us?... No ...[to the rest of the audience, perhaps waving a hand theatrically in front of John's face] The lights are on, but there's nobody home'.

b

:up: Many thanks, bob. It's clear now. I was barking up the wrong tree. ;-)