Three two- letter prepositions:–in, on and at– are a perennial source of confusion among the learners of the English language.
Let’s look at close quarters these three words and how they feature in our everyday conversations and writings.
Description of time dimensions
Generally speaking, the longer the period the more is likely the preposition ‘in’ occupying the slot. The prime candidates are month, year, decade, century, millennium. For example, she was born in April. The last Olympic games were held in 2017. The event occurred in the 20th century. It happens only in a lifetime.
The preposition ‘in’ gives way to ‘on’ as we move to shorter periods like day, date and holiday. E.g. She was born on 31st January. I will join in my new job on Monday next. They feed the homeless people on Christmas Day.
As the time period gets still shorter or specific the preposition ‘at’ takes over. For instance, the meeting will be held at 2 o’clock. The clock strikes 12 at noon.
The following is a bird’s eye view of prepositions regarding time.
Prepositions before places
Here again, the largest or more general places take ‘in’ as the preposition. Examples are: The capital of the US is in Washington DC. We live in this world. To enjoy the best food visit the restaurants in China town. Amazon forest is in South America.
For more specific places the right preposition is ‘on’. Example: Our friends live on the Independence Avenue.
For exact address of a specific place the appropriate preposition is ‘’at’. Example: You’re invited for dinner at our home at 834 Pennsylvania Avenue.
The following is a bird’s eye view of the prepositions regarding places.
What about the appropriate preposition to describe our life on earth–the question you asked?
We start by eliminating ’at’ that applies mostly to small or specific places.
We also cancel ‘in’ if only because it’s very hot there inside the planet. Some insects and creatures live in the upper layers while humans get there only after the death.
Through a process of elimination we are left with only ‘on’. So, I live ‘on’ the planet earth. Our lives on planet earth are threatened by a huge stockpile of nuclear arms waiting to be triggered at the touch of a button.
Pictorial illustrations: Courtesy Google
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