preposition usage issue

[LeTyan]

Hi:

As for these collocations,
in school
at school
in the school
at the school

Would you please give one to two examples for each so I can get the situations where they can be properly used?

Thank you so much!

 

[Chicken Sandwich]

6 in school a) in the school building : Sandra’s not in school today.

b) American English attending a school or university rather than having a job : Are your boys still in school?

5 at school a) in the school building : I can get some work done while the kids are at school.

b) British English attending a school, rather than being at college or university or having a job : We’ve got two children at school, and one at university.

Source: Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

 

[Winwin2011]

In school and at school both mean 'in the school building', do they apply to Bre Engish and AMe English?

Thanks.

 

[5jj]

In school and at school both mean 'in the school building', do they apply to Br[STRIKE]e[/STRIKE] Engish and A[STRIKE]M[/STRIKE]m[STRIKE]e[/STRIKE] English?
Thanks.

As Chicken Sandwich suggested, 'in' is more typical of AmE, 'at' of BrE.