At or on

Question

Firstly, I'd like to know whether there is a difference between knock on the door and knock at the door.

Secondly, is the following sentence correct:

I can't play a muscial instrument but I really wish to.

Thank you.

Nancy

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Firstly, I'd like to know whether there is a difference between knock on the door and knock at the door.

There's really no difference, but 'on' is much, much more common.

Secondly, is the following sentence correct:

I can't play a muscial instrument but I really wish to.

Yes, except for the spelling error.

But 'want' woud be much more commonly used than 'wish'.

Clive

Mr Wordy · Answer

AnonymousFirstly, I'd like to know whether there is a difference between knock on the door and knock at the door.

The simple answer is that there's usually little difference in usage. For example, the following are pretty much interchangeable:

"I heard a knock at/on the door."

"When you arrive, knock at/on the door."

The complicated answer is that "on" has more of a sense that the knock is physically against the door, while "at" refers more to the door as a location. For example, you could say "I got a knock on the head", but not "I got a knock at the head" (the head is not a location). Similarly, you could say "I heard a ring at the door" but not "I heard a ring on the door" (you can't physically ring "on" a door).

At or on

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