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Renan torres-rivero Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
ON the list /OR/ IN the list????
Dear "native" teachers,
I've always come through preposition problems, but this is quite tricky. I've heard American and British evenly say "in the list" or "on the list". Which is correct? Or both?
Take for instance the following:
1) Is your name ON the list?
2) I put your stuff IN the list of things for shopping.
Thank you in advance for your clear answers.
Cheers,
;-)
I've always come through preposition problems, but this is quite tricky. I've heard American and British evenly say "in the list" or "on the list". Which is correct? Or both?
Take for instance the following:
1) Is your name ON the list?
2) I put your stuff IN the list of things for shopping.
Thank you in advance for your clear answers.
Cheers,
;-)
Top answer
I'm American. I always say "on the list" because it is something that I write on a piece of paper. I never write in the paper.
- I'm American.
- I always say "on the list" because it is something that I write on a piece of paper.
- I never write in the paper.
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12 Answers
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I'm American. I always say "on the list" because it is something that I write on a piece of paper. I never write in the paper.
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Hi Alphy
And, what if it's not written on a piece of paper? Let's say, in a file of a computer system or database?
And, does this imply that British speakers use "in" with "list" and not "on"?
Here more examples:
1. There were some surprising inclusions in the list.
2. Your name comes after mine in the list.
3. To her dismay, her name was not on the list.
4. It di
And, what if it's not written on a piece of paper? Let's say, in a file of a computer system or database?
And, does this imply that British speakers use "in" with "list" and not "on"?
Here more examples:
1. There were some surprising inclusions in the list.
2. Your name comes after mine in the list.
3. To her dismay, her name was not on the list.
4. It di
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I am also American, but would agree with the usage of "in" and "on" in each of your four examples. "In" has the connotation of examining or studying the contents of the list, maybe even how the individual items relate to one another. "On" seems to be concerned with only whether or not something exists on said list. "Hey, am I on the list." "Did you put that on the list?"
"On" in number f
"On" in number f
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I agree that "on a list" is what I would generally expect people to use.
renan torres-riveroAnd, what if it's not written on a piece of paper? Let's say, in a file of a computer system or database?
And, does this imply that British speakers use "in" with "list" and not "on"?
Here more examples:
1. There were some surprising inclusions in the list.
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Dear gentlemen,
The comments from all of you are really of great value to me.
Thank you very much
;-)
The comments from all of you are really of great value to me.
Thank you very much
;-)
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1. There were some surprising inclusions in the list.
The above is correct because of the verb, and "in" is a verb dependant preposition, meaning that the preposition "in" will always have to be used with this specific verb. You might want to check "dependent prepositions + verb / ".
You should use "on" if you want to say that you are writing "on" a piece of paper
The above is correct because of the verb, and "in" is a verb dependant preposition, meaning that the preposition "in" will always have to be used with this specific verb. You might want to check "dependent prepositions + verb / ".
You should use "on" if you want to say that you are writing "on" a piece of paper
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I agree with your feedback. I also noticed other stating that 'on' is better as they are writing on a piece or paper.
However, the paper is not the list. The list itself refers to a set or items. Let me also pose a different situation.
What if the list is a soft copy. In this case, 'on' (based on the reason that one writes on a piece of paper) is not fully correct. 'in' would seem more fit
However, the paper is not the list. The list itself refers to a set or items. Let me also pose a different situation.
What if the list is a soft copy. In this case, 'on' (based on the reason that one writes on a piece of paper) is not fully correct. 'in' would seem more fit
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Well, i use the both statement based on what i am referring to. I use "on the list' when referring to internet or anything online(what i can't touch) but i use "in the list" when referring to what i can touch or feel.
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I think what we really need to do is to look on the context. Language is dynamic and almost everything keeps on evolving. Such as with the English language, it's kinda crazy at times.
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Then you would simply say "in a file" and refrain from using the word list.
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