Words and Phrases.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20454, 6 November 1934, Page 6

Words and Phrases.

CORRESPONDENT to “John o’ London’s Weekly ” brings up a very interesting point about the usage of at and in. “ I have been thinking on a peculiarity of our English language. It is this: We always speak of staying or living in London (never at). At other towns we use either preposition, but of a village we almost alwavs say at. Then we sav at home: at school: at an hotel; at a seaside resort, but in prison: in the workhouse. in an asydum; in a house; in the country. We meet our friends at a railway station, in the park, on the promenade. Now, is there reason, beyond common usage, for this varied use of prepositions?”

“Jackdaw” suggests that common usage should be followed in this matter. but. broadly speaking, at expresses contact, in expresses inclusion. Thtis we would probably say that Mrs Smith, who lives in Christchurch, spent a fortnight of her holiday in Dunedin, but on the way home she stayed at Temuka.

It is true, this London writer continues, that at. and in are often interchangeablv used of the same place according to meaning or context. Thus we may’ properly say: “ The annual conference will be held at Manchester next year.” whereas. if the conference were already met there, one would more appropriately describe it as proceeding in, or being held, in Manchester. The capital of a country’ seldom or never takes at: we say in London. Berlin. Rome. Paris—but even here the choice of preposition is one of agreed usage rather than rigid rule. “At London ” is now never spoken or written. but it can be found in not very old writers. The New English Dictionary points out that “at. as distinguished from in or on. is sometimes used to express some practical connection with a place”: hence “at school.” But “in school ” is used of place without the same suggestion of purpose. “ In the sea.” “ on the sea,” and “ at sea ” carry different shades of meaning which it is xmnecessarv to explain. “In prison” and "in an asy’lum ” sxiggest definite inclusion, “ at an hotel ” only’ the temporary use of an hotel. TOUCHSTONE.