Auction at from on in

Question

HelloIs it OK to say I bought it at an auction I bought it in an auction and csn I say I bought it on eBay I bought it from eBay I bought it on an internet auction website I bought it from an internet auction website I bought it at an internet auction website ThanksStephen

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Yes, all are possible.

(And my condolences to Kosei Gakuin.)

KrisBlueNZ · Answer

"I bought it AT an auction" - this is good. Strictly speaking, that sentence could imply that you were physically THERE, at the same PLACE as the auction, but it's meant metaphorically (you were somewhere else, bidding using your computer, I assume). So it's good.
"I bought it IN an auction" - that's probably acceptable (it's obvious what you mean) but I wouldn't say that.
"I bought it ON eBay" - good. You were "ON" eBay (accessing eBay's web site) when you bidded on the auction and won the item, so that's a good way to say it.
"I bought it FROM eBay" - not strictly true. eBay are just the auctioneer. You bought it from the seller, not eBay, so "from eBay" is wrong.
"I bought it ON an internet auction website" - good (same as (3))
"I bought it FROM an internet auction website" - misleading (same as (4))
"I bought it AT an internet auction website" - good (same as (1))

Personally I'd probably say "I bought it THROUGH eBay" - eBay made the deal happen, so the deal was done THROUGH eBay. But that's just me; most of these are OK.

Auction at from on in

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