The different between at and in

[Lawrence Chow]

What is the different between "at the school" and "in the school"?

 

[J&K Tutoring]

Very little. I take this usage to refer to the school building/grounds and whether the verb or noun in the rest of the sentence is actually inside the building (in the school), somewhere on the school grounds or even very near the school property (at the school).

Take away the article: at school/in school, and things get a little more complicated.

 

[Rover_KE]

Welcome to the forum, Lawrence.:-D

What is the difference between "at the school" and "in the school"?

Please note my amendment to your post.

 

[TheParser]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello, Mr. Chow:

Those two prepositions drive me crazy, too.

If I understand my books, one usually uses "at" if one wishes to put the emphasis on the location of a place; one uses "in" if one wishes to emphasize the interior of the place.

1. (I made up this example) The students are going on a trip to the mountains tomorrow. They have been instructed to meet at the school by 7:30 a.m. in order to board the buses, which will leave at exactly 7:50 a.m. Late students should return home. [Do you notice that "at the school" simply refers to the meeting place?]

2. I found this quotation in Google "books": "It was thought to be a mark of high efficiency in the school to fail a large per cent [sic] of the students." -- Report of the School Survey (1916).
[I think that you will agree that in this case, the location is NOT being emphasized. The activities within the school are being emphasized.]

 

[sitifan]

in the school - under the roof of the school building (said of a person OR thing)
at the school - in or near the school building (said of a person OR thing)
in school - being educated in or at a school; occupied with being educated ( said of a person)
at school - located at a school; attending a class in a school (said of a person)
You can say that there is an auditorium in the school, but the auditorium is not in school or at school. You can say that there is a playground at the school, but the playground is not in school or at school. Auditoriums and playgrounds cannot be educated or attend classes.
https://www.englishforums.com/English/InAt/hrvhg/post.htm
When we think of someone who is enrolled as a student, we use "in school". My five-year old will be in school for the first time this fall. Did you see that little kid running around in the neighbor's yard? Believe it or not, he's already in school. Summer is over. Now all the children are in school again. Paul! I hear you took a job with IBM after graduating from high school. -- No, actually I'm still in school. I'm attending the University of Wyoming. I'm just in California now for a week's vacation, so I'm not at school now. We think of someone who is physically present on the grounds of the school, whether outside or inside of the school, participating in the activities of the school, we use "at school". I wonder what Johnny is doing at school today. What kinds of things do you do at school? Do you play football at school? Where is your little daughter? -- She's at school. -- On Saturday? --Yes; they're at school rehearsing a play she's in. When we think of someone physically inside the school building, we use "in school" or "at school". Most students are in school at this hour of the day. Most students are at school at this hour of the day. (These illustrate usage in American English.)
https://www.englishforums.com/English/InSchoolAtSchool/xvgw/post.htm

 

[emsr2d2]

It all depends on context. There is no single simple answer to your question.

 

[jutfrank]

I can't see the question.

 

[sitifan]

I can't see the question.

I was trying to answer the question in post #1.

 

[jutfrank]

I was trying to answer the question in post #1.

Ah, I see now. I think your answer is a pretty good one. Seven years late, but still pretty good.

 

[Rover_KE]

Seven years late, but still pretty good.

Yes - that was the OP’s one and only question, so he clearly lost interest in the forum soon after posting it.