in a sale

[BobK]

Originally Posted by Nefertiti

Hi BK.

From Br English perspective,
1. what does 'the woman often stays late in a sale' mean?
She often goes to a shop that has discounted goods and stays late.

2. what does 'the woman often stays late at the sales' mean?
She often goes shopping at a time and place where several shops have discounted goods and stays late. "The sales" are often qualified in this way: "January Sales", "Spring Sales", "Autumn Sales".... Confusingly a shop might report 'increased Christmas sales' (which would refer to - probably undiscounted - sales leading up to Christmas).

3. Are they both common usage?


4. How come 'in a sale' is singular and 'at the sales' are plural? Is it OK to say, 'in sales' and 'at the sale' or 'at a sale'?
The singular and plural apply as I've explained.



Thanks for the reply.

b

[Nefertiti]

Hi soup.
You wrote:
"It depends on the meaning you want to express. The phrase "on/in a sale" works if it means the woman is conducting business, she's making a sale."

What do the following sentences mean if the woman is a sales or she owns a store?


1. The woman often stays late in a sale.

2. The woman often stays late on a sale.

Are they common usage?

Thanks for the reply.

[Soup]

Originally Posted by Nefertiti

What do the following sentences mean if the woman is a sales or she owns a store?

1. The woman often stays late in a sale. (when conducting a sale)

2. The woman often stays late on a sale. (when making a sale)

Yes, they are common.

[RonBee]

Note:

In American usage, if an item is on sale it is for sale at a discounted price. (Bob K already alluded to this.)

Nefertiti, be careful that you don't get confused. (Amigos4 and Soup were both right, but they were talking about different usages.)

[Nefertiti]

Hi Soup.
You wrote:
1. The woman often stays late in a sale. (when conducting a sale)

2. The woman often stays late on a sale. (when making a sale)

_________
The following discussions are all about American English.

re conduct a sale vs. make a sale

a. Can you give more examples?

b. What do you mean by conducting a sale.

re in a sale vs. on a sale

c. Can you give more examples?

Thanks for the reply.