Internet related prepositions

Question

Hi, I have a doubt about a phrase I came across correcting some exam paper. There is a variety of different prepositions that can go with the noun Internet. E.g.:

We can download something:

from/off the Internet

We can do something:

on/thorough/over/via the Internet

We can upload or send something:

to the Internet

The question is if we can use the preposition "by" the same way we use it with "by phone" (in the sense 'by means of").

The context:

I sent the parcel by Internet (by means of the Internet)

I would appreciate any answer to my question.

GPY · Accepted Answer

MrTon/thorough/over/via the Internet

through

MrTWe can upload or send something:to the Internet

This doesn't sound right to me. It sounds as if the Internet is the recipient, whereas in fact it is just the medium of communication.

MrTThe question is if we can use the preposition "by" the same way we use it with "by phone" (in the sense 'by means of").The context:I sent the parcel by Internet (by means of the Internet)I would appreciate any answer to my question.

"I send the parcel by Internet/phone" both sound wrong to me. The noun after "by" would have to be the thing that actually transported the parcel, such as a courier or delivery service, or a type of delivery service like express delivery or something.

MrT · Answer

THROUGH - mea culpa, obvious mistake, but I couldn`t find any edit option to correct it

)

Right, but talking about "by phone" an example sentence can be found in LDOCE:

"Much of his work is done by phone."

Your answer gives a very good the explanation as, here, the work mentioned IS DONE directly with the use of the telephone. I didn`t mean "sending the parcel by phone" which sounds ridiculous obviously.

What about the case when, supposing, I was given something to be translated, I did the job and I sent the translation back to the recipient. Then, the translation would be "transported" by means of the Internet.
"Sending the parcel by Internet" was not the best context as there are hundreds of different variations in students` works that I wouldn`t like to take anyone`s time to go through all of them.

"To the Internet". Actually, I took this from the definition of "upload" (in LDOCE). So, if the phrase "download FROM" has its own preposition, perhaps, "upload" could have "ONTO" (...the Internet), for example. Am I right?

GPY · Answer

MrTWhat about the case when, supposing, I was given something to be translated, I did the job and I sent the translation back to the recipient. Then, the translation would be "transported" by means of the Internet.

Do you mean you sent it by email? If so, then you would say so.

MrT"To the Internet". Actually, I took this from the definition of "upload" (in LDOCE). So, if the phrase "download FROM" has its own preposition, perhaps, "upload" could have "ONTO" (...the Internet), for example. Am I right?

For me, "send to the Internet" sounds wrong. "upload to the Internet" sounds marginal; the destination would have to be known or assumed. "onto" does not seem an improvement. "download from the Internet" sounds a bit vague, but acceptable when the source isn't important.

MrT · Answer

Thank you for your explanation. It`s very valuable from a non-native speaker`s point of view. Now I see there is a specific context when I can accept the phrase "by Internet" as the one which coveys the message from the examination task.

The last thing...if you have:

"download a song" .... "the Internet"
"upload a song" ... "the Internet"

what preposition would be best in both cases? (if I used the word "website", you would probably accept "from" and "to", right?)

GPY · Answer

MrT"download a song" .... "the Internet""upload a song" ... "the Internet"

download a song from the Internet
upload a song to the Internet (seems a little bit unsatisfactory to me, for the reasons mentioned)

"from" and "to" would also be used for websites, as you say.

MrT · Answer

Right, "upload" suggests the Internet itself (upload a song - sounds enough).

Many thanks once again.

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