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JaxTeller Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

by or at

Which one is correct:

He is standing by the bar, or he is standing at the bar.

What about: he is standing by the exit, he is standing at the exit.

Thanks.
  

Top answer

I think ‘at the bar’ indicates that you are a customer/patron; whereas ‘by the bar’ is a description of where you will be waiting. Depending on the size of the exit (thinking of an underground station exit), one may be standing near or by the exit, but if there is a turnstile exit, you might stand at it as well as by/near it.

— Wilpeter

  • I think ‘at the bar’ indicates that you are a customer/patron; whereas ‘by the bar’ is a description of where you will be waiting.
  • Depending on the size of the exit (thinking of an underground station exit), one may be standing near or by the exit, but if there is a turnstile exit, you might stand at it as well as by/near it.
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6 Answers
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I think ‘at the bar’ indicates that you are a customer/patron; whereas ‘by the bar’ is a description of where you will be waiting. Depending on the size of the exit (thinking of an underground station exit), one may be standing near or by the exit, but if there is a turnstile exit, you might stand at it as well as by/near it.
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I see, thank you. What about this example:

Where is my phone?

It's right by the remote control / It's right next to the remote control.

Are both correct?
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Yes. Plus the following:
It's right there (pointing). It's over there (further away). It's right beside your unread newspaper.
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JaxTeller Which one is correct:He is standing by the bar, or he is standing at the bar.What about: he is standing by the exit, he is standing at the exit.Thanks.
"at" is closer than "by".
"at" is more like "in the same place as".
"by" is more like "near that place".

Both are correct. It just depends on what you mean.

CJ
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