prepositions at school/in school, like caravans/as caravans

Question

Hi,
I was always taught at school that the correct prepositon is "AT school", but I quite often see "IN school". Are both correct? Is it possible that AT is British grammar, and IN American grammar? Is it the same with at/in primary school, at/in high school, at/in university?

I thought "as" is used to say what function or role sb or sth has, and "like" to talk about similarity. I have come across a sentence "Yes, people use them like caravans, really.", where a lady renting out boats talks about what her clients do. "They go up river for their holidays and then bring them back to the moorings ...."
Shouldn´t it be "they use tem AS caravans"? And if it is only slang or informal use, would that be acceptable in an exam (PET, FCE)?

Thank you for your answer(s).

Blue Jay · Accepted Answer

radovanI was always taught at school that the correct prepositon is "AT school", but I quite often see "IN school". Are both correct? Is it possible that AT is British grammar, and IN American grammar? Is it the same with at/in primary school, at/in high school, at/in university?

Yes. Brits usually say at school, while Americans usually say in school.
In universitysounds a bit odd to me, as an American would be more likely to say in college.

radovanI thought "as" is used to say what function or role sb or sth has, and "like" to talk about similarity. I have come across a sentence "Yes, people use them like caravans, really.", where a lady renting out boats talks about what her clients do. "They go up river for their holidays and then bring them back to the moorings ...." Shouldn´t it be "they use tem AS caravans"? And if it is only slang or informal use, would that be acceptable in an exam (PET, FCE)?

To me, like a caravan suggests for a similar purpose, in an equivalent manner, while as a caravan might suggest in place of a caravan, in the same way that everyone else would use a caravan.
We sailed up the river using the boat like a caravan, eating and sleeping on board.
We loaded the boat on the trailer and drove to California, using the boat as a caravan on the way.

Anonymous · Answer

Blue JayIn universitysounds a bit odd to me,

It's British usage.

Blue Jay · Answer

AnonymousIt's British usage.

My point was the combination of in + university sounds odd to me. I would say when I was at university to a Brit, and when I was in college to an American.

CalifJim · Answer

radovan... "as" ..., and "like" ....

According to some usage guides, "like" serves as a preposition, and "as" connects clauses.

They use boats like caravans ~ They use boats that are similar to caravans.
They use boats as caravans ~ They use boats as they use caravans. ~ They use boats in a way similar to the way they use caravans.

It seems to me that "as" is the correct choice in your example sentence.

That said, in actual practice native speakers are not very careful about making the distinction between "as" and "like"; therefore, you will very often hear "like" where "as" is expected and, less often, "as" where "like" is expected.

CJ

prepositions at school/in school, like caravans/as caravans

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