Editing Language/English/Vocabulary/“In-the-office”-or-“at-the-office”
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[[File:“In the office” or “at the office”.jpg|thumb]] | [[File:“In the office” or “at the office”.jpg|thumb]] | ||
<div | <div style="font-size:240%;"> “In the office” or “at the office” (note the definite article!)</div> | ||
“I am in the office” means that the office is a room and I am inside that room. However, the word “at” expresses the general idea of the location of one’s office and is often interchangeable with “at work”. | “I am in the office” means that the office is a room and I am inside that room. However, the word “at” expresses the general idea of the location of one’s office and is often interchangeable with “at work”. | ||
Compare: | Compare: | ||
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*I am at my/the office. = I am somewhere near my office or in it. I am at work. | *I am at my/the office. = I am somewhere near my office or in it. I am at work. | ||
"at my/the office" is much more common in British English whereas "in my/the office" is more used in American English. | "at my/the office" is much more common in British English whereas "in my/the office" is more used in American English. | ||
There's a reason for using "the" for this case. "I am at the office." is really short for "I am at the office where I work.". In the context of conversations about office spaces and working, "where I work" is really redundant. So, we just drop the "where I work" in normal conversation and end up with "I'm at the office.". | There's a reason for using "the" for this case. "I am at the office." is really short for "I am at the office where I work.". In the context of conversations about office spaces and working, "where I work" is really redundant. So, we just drop the "where I work" in normal conversation and end up with "I'm at the office.". | ||
Example in the context of a workplace: | Example in the context of a workplace: | ||
*I am not at the office right now. (not I am not at office right now). | *I am not at the office right now. (not I am not at office right now). | ||
“In office” (without an article) implies something relatively different. When you say that somebody is “in office”, it means that they work in an official position, usually for the state as authorities. | “In office” (without an article) implies something relatively different. When you say that somebody is “in office”, it means that they work in an official position, usually for the state as authorities. | ||
Example: | Example: | ||
*He, as a president, was in office from 2000 to 2020. | *He, as a president, was in office from 2000 to 2020. | ||
This is much more commonly used in American English. A British English expression might be something like "He had held the official position of president from 2000 to 2020.". | This is much more commonly used in American English. A British English expression might be something like "He had held the official position of president from 2000 to 2020.". | ||
Finally, “at office” (without an article) is rarely, if at all, used. | Finally, “at office” (without an article) is rarely, if at all, used. | ||
More information on how to use ON, AT or IN : https://polyglotclub.com/wiki/Language/English/Vocabulary/How-to-use-ON%2C-AT-and-IN | More information on how to use ON, AT or IN : https://polyglotclub.com/wiki/Language/English/Vocabulary/How-to-use-ON%2C-AT-and-IN | ||
== | ==Related Lessons== | ||
* [[Language/English/Vocabulary/Arise-and-rise|Arise and rise]] | * [[Language/English/Vocabulary/Arise-and-rise|Arise and rise]] | ||
* [[Language/English/Vocabulary/Not…as-such|Not…as such]] | * [[Language/English/Vocabulary/Not…as-such|Not…as such]] | ||
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* [[Language/English/Vocabulary/Top-Job-Interview-Questions|Top Job Interview Questions]] | * [[Language/English/Vocabulary/Top-Job-Interview-Questions|Top Job Interview Questions]] | ||
* [[Language/English/Vocabulary/Frequently-Misspelt-Words|Frequently Misspelt Words]] | * [[Language/English/Vocabulary/Frequently-Misspelt-Words|Frequently Misspelt Words]] | ||