Preposition AT/On

Question

Hi, What's difference between these?That is, to say why can't we use" on" for second.?  On Maple street.   At 25 Maple street.Thanks

Dimsumexpress · Accepted Answer

XYZ store is On Maple Street,

XYZ store is located at 25 Maple street.

Let's meet at the Burger Queen at Maple and 12 Ave at 10 tomorrow morning.

At - has a more precise implication.

Philip · Answer

Love those prepositions! For no reason that I can immediately determine, I live on Main Street at 546. Or at 546 Main Street.

CalifJim · Answer

rashinwhy can't we use "on" for the second one? On Maple street. At 25 Maple street.

Because it's too specific. You can be anywhere on a street, just as you can be anywhere on a line. It's a linear dimension.

A specific address fixes the position on the street to one particular building, so you are at a point on the street. It's non-dimensional; it's a point.

If you are at 1225 Elm Street, you are somewhere on Elm Street.
If you are at 2338 Elm Street, you are somewhere else on Elm Street.

Similarly, you can be traveling on a road. You can be anywhere on that road. But you may have to stop at a traffic light on that road. The traffic light is at a specific position on the road.

CJ

Philip · Answer

Thanks, CJ.

Preposition AT/On

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