on a list vs. in a list

Question

Hi,"The item is on the shopping list."  "next (pronoun) - the person or thing in a list, series etc that comes after the person or thing you are dealing with now:"  1. What are the differences between 'on a list' and 'in a list'?  Thanks,

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

"The item is on the shopping list."

"next (pronoun) - the person or thing in a list, series etc that comes after the person or thing you are dealing with now:"

1. What are the differences between 'on a list' and 'in a list'?

There's not really any big difference. These are often interchanged.

Here are a couple of comments on occasional small subtleties.

on a list - suggests a bit that you are thinking of the physical list, eg thinking of a piece of paper.

in a list - suggests a bit that you are not thinking of the list as a physical thing, but just as a sequence of names, eg 'your name is in a list in my mind'.

But, as I said, usually there is no difference.

Best wishes, Clive

Meantolearn · Answer

Hi, Clive.

"There's not really any big difference. These are often interchanged."

Is it Okay to rewrite the following and without change their meanings?
e.g. "The item is in the shopping list."
"next (pronoun) - the person or thing on a list, series etc that comes after the person or thing you are dealing with now:"

Thanks for your reply.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

"There's not really any big difference. These are often interchanged."

Is it Okay to rewrite the following and without change their meanings?
e.g. "The item is in the shopping list." It's OK, but I prefer 'on', and I think it's much more common in this example.

"next (pronoun) - the person or thing on a list, series etc that comes after the person or thing you are dealing with now:" It's OK, but I prefer 'in', and I think it's much more common in this example.

Clive

on a list vs. in a list

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