On and at are two main prepositions that indicate location and time. “At” is used when trying to refer to the specified time and place. “On” is used when trying to refer to days and dates, while “at” refers to a specific time. Apart from this, there are always different ways to use them in terms of location. Here, we have explained the difference between on and at and discussed a few examples.
Difference Between On and At
So, let’s get started!
Example Of Usage Of On And At
- The shopping center is closed on Mondays.
- The movie starts at four o’clock in the evening.
What Does “On” Mean?
On is the most used preposition to talk about a specific time and location. It is used to refer to a given date and day. “On” is also used when referring to a position along a road, river, sea, or lake, surface, and more. Some of the examples are-
- The post office is closed on Sundays.
- He has a week off on his birthday.
- He went to Paris on Sunday.
When indicating a place, “on” is used as:
- Her food is on the table.
- She sleeps on the big double bed.
What Does “At” Mean?
At is another most used preposition that specifies a particular time and place. It indicates a specific time and a specific day or week.
Here are some of the examples:
- They went for a long drive at midnight.
- Where are you traveling at the weekend?
Usage Of “At” When Referring To A Location
- He was waiting for me at my house when I got home.
Usage Of “At” When Referring To A Company Or Workplace
- Do you know how many people work at Infosys?
Usage Of “At” When Referring To A Address
- We once lived at number 20, South Korean Street.
Similarities Between On And At
The only similarity between the two prepositions is that they indicate a location and time specified.
The prepositions “on” and “at” are commonly used to indicate time and location. “On” is typically used with dates and days, such as “on Sunday” or “on my birthday.” It can also refer to a position on a surface or along a road, river, sea, or lake. For example, “Her wallet is on the table” or “Galle is a major city on the southern coast of Sri Lanka.”
In contrast, “at” is used to specify a particular time or place. It can refer to specific points on the clock or in the day, like “at midnight” or “at the weekend.” Additionally, “at” is used for specific locations seen as points, such as “at my desk” or “at number 12, South Chando Street.”
While both prepositions indicate specific times or locations, “on” tends to be more specific than “in” but less specific than “at.” Therefore, “at” is used for more precise times and locations than “on.”
Conclusion
Though both the prepositions might be confusing, there is a lot of difference between on and at. Moreover, you cannot interchange and use them. In general, “at” indicates a more specific place and time than the preposition “on.”
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