On the 13th minute; in the 13th minute

Question

Spurs sent it home on the 13th minute....but then there also "in the 13th minute".   Any difference here?

BarbaraPA · Accepted Answer

Hi tinanam, and welcome to English Forums.

I'd say that only "in the 13th minute" is correct. Sometime in that 60-second period that covered the 13th minute of ply in that half.

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi Barbara,

Under what circumstances would one say "on the Xth minute"? Would you help clear up the following few questions for me? Thanks

It all happened during the football match - very often I hear the commentator say it:

1. Here John controlling the ball on his chest and then beating the keeper on the 72nd minute.

BUT some other time they might say "He drove it (the ball) home in the 8th minute"

Love to have you back on this one

BarbaraPA · Answer

Well, the fact that you're talking about "football" already puts you in a different vocabulary than mine. In AMERICAN English, you would only say "in the Xth minute [of play]." However, I do know there are some differences between American English and other varieties - for example, we say "on the weekend" not "at the weekend." So possibly this ("on the minute") usage is common elsewhere.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I would agree with GG that 'on' is wrong here.

Generally speaking, sports commentators are not famous for using perfect English. On the contrary!

Best wishes, Clive

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi Clive, Hi Barbara,

Thanks for the answers. I think I can try lto ook up other old threads in this site with same issues.

MrPedantic · Answer

Grammar GeekSo possibly this ("on the minute") usage is common elsewhere.

I think GG's right; "on the Xth minute" doesn't sound unusual to me, and there are several examples on the BBC website, e.g.

1. Harry Kewell did pull back a controversial goal for Leeds on the 80th minute, much to the fury of Strachan.

2. Rudd latched onto the mistake and simply walked the ball into the net, capping his hat-trick on the 79th minute

3. After three consecutive corners resulted in a headed goal from Rudd on the 64th minute, the rout was on

(I have always understood it as "at the beginning of the Xth minute", as in "on the stroke of midnight"; though on reflection I doubt whether commentators intend that kind of precision.)

Best wishes,

MrP

BarbaraPA · Answer

I agree - That's what I would have inferred if the person insisted that "on" was meant and it was American English - that it happened JUST AS it shifted to the 15th minutes (or whatever minute it was).

Prepositions are so pesky!

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi GG,

Grammar GeekI agree - That's what I would have inferred if the person insisted that "on" was meant and it was American English - that it happened JUST AS it shifted to the 15th minutes (or whatever minute it was).

I hope you don't mind me asking what the bold blue sentence you were referring to.

I watch the news almost every day, and I found that it's the British reporter on the story who uses "on Xth minute" while the American reporter will say "in the Xth" minute. The more I hear it the more I was wondering if this is a case of Bristish English vs American English. And I actually silly enough to check the minute shown at the corner of the screen. Like 21:45 ( the reporter would say in /on the 22nd minute).

Maybe it's good to know there are choices. (If you have time, could you correct the mistakes in this post)

Thank you very much

Tinanam

BarbaraPA · Answer

Your grammar was just fine there.

It's clearly a case of Am E vs. Br E, then.

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi GG,

Thanks.

On the 13th minute; in the 13th minute

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