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Estela Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Inside/within
hello
i would like to know the difference of usage between inside and within, i have asked before to native speakers and i always have different answers and i still cant understand why i can say: inside my head and within my head. are these words synonymous? what s the limit between them? any particular shade of difference?
Estela
i would like to know the difference of usage between inside and within, i have asked before to native speakers and i always have different answers and i still cant understand why i can say: inside my head and within my head. are these words synonymous? what s the limit between them? any particular shade of difference?
Estela
Top answer
For all practical purposes, the prepositions "inside" and "within" are synonymous. "inside my head" and "within my head" mean the same thing. "inside the box" and "within the box" mean the same thing.
- For all practical purposes, the prepositions "inside" and "within" are synonymous.
- "inside my head" and "within my head" mean the same thing.
- "inside the box" and "within the box" mean the same thing.
- "inside" is a more everyday word; "within" belongs to a slightly higher register and may be regarded as slightly more poetic.
- "inside" is often the choice when speaking of spatial relationships (inside the box, inside the house, inside the drawer) ; "within" is more often used figuratively (within the law, within the medical profession, within the arts, within the soul, within my heart).
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14 Answers
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For all practical purposes, the prepositions "inside" and "within" are synonymous. "inside my head" and "within my head" mean the same thing. "inside the box" and "within the box" mean the same thing.
"inside" is a more everyday word; "within" belongs to a slightly higher register and may be regarded as slightly more poetic.
"inside" is often the choice when speaking of
"inside" is a more everyday word; "within" belongs to a slightly higher register and may be regarded as slightly more poetic.
"inside" is often the choice when speaking of
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I would like to add to what CalifJim said.
When referring to time, “within” and “inside” are not interchangeable:
“You are supposed to complete it within two hours” is correct but
“You are supposed to complete it inside two hours” is not.
When referring to time, “within” and “inside” are not interchangeable:
“You are supposed to complete it within two hours” is correct but
“You are supposed to complete it inside two hours” is not.
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This is news to me, aa. BrE uses often in conjunction with time and NaE does too with the usual addition of -->> inside of two hours.
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But look, Just The Truth, I've made a Google search and here are the results:
“within two months” – 468 000 hits;
“inside two months” – 344 hits.
“inside of” wasn’t mentioned in the above question – it was about “within vs. inside”.
“within two months” – 468 000 hits;
“inside two months” – 344 hits.
“inside of” wasn’t mentioned in the above question – it was about “within vs. inside”.
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Hi, Attempt!
Yes, I agree with you. "inside of" wasn't mentioned. It was about "within" vs. "inside".
That's why I didn't mention "inside of" in my response.
Nevertheless, JT expanded the discussion to include "inside of", so we've got a sort of bonus from his added contribution.
Jim
Yes, I agree with you. "inside of" wasn't mentioned. It was about "within" vs. "inside".
That's why I didn't mention "inside of" in my response.
Nevertheless, JT expanded the discussion to include "inside of", so we've got a sort of bonus from his added contribution.
Jim
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Hello CalifJim.
Maybe my post sounded as if I were trying to “restrict” Just The Truth with the boundaries of “within vs. inside” discussion – Good Gracious, no, of course I didn’t mean that. If my post can be read this way, I am sorry for that; it’s just a qui pro quo and what I meant was quite different.
Maybe I ought to be more detailed in my post but I just thought – my p
Maybe my post sounded as if I were trying to “restrict” Just The Truth with the boundaries of “within vs. inside” discussion – Good Gracious, no, of course I didn’t mean that. If my post can be read this way, I am sorry for that; it’s just a qui pro quo and what I meant was quite different.
Maybe I ought to be more detailed in my post but I just thought – my p
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But look, Just The Truth, I've made a Google search and here are the results:
“within two months” – 468 000 hits;
“inside two months” – 344 hits.
“inside of” wasn’t mentioned in the above question – it was about “within vs. inside”.
I appreciate that the original query didn't have 'inside of', AA. However my response noted that, "BrE uses often
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Thank you Just The Truth.
I didn’t know “inside” was that applicable when referring to time. I shall make a note of it now. Thank you.
But was is your explanation for that striking difference in the above results of Google search?
I didn’t know “inside” was that applicable when referring to time. I shall make a note of it now. Thank you.
But was is your explanation for that striking difference in the above results of Google search?
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I'm really not sure, AA. Perhaps it's as Jim said, 'time' is a more figurative thing than it is spatial.
CJ: "inside" is often the choice when speaking of spatial relationships (inside the box, inside the house, inside the drawer) ; "within" is more often used figuratively (within the law, within the medical profession, within the arts, within the soul, within my heart).
CJ: "inside" is often the choice when speaking of spatial relationships (inside the box, inside the house, inside the drawer) ; "within" is more often used figuratively (within the law, within the medical profession, within the arts, within the soul, within my heart).
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