"AT" in "IN" doubt--help please

Question

Warm Christmas and New year greetings friends                                                 I recently read the following lines from a book.Now,I am a bit confused with the preposition they used in that line.The line read as follows:  I know oneday I"ll be good at Spanish.                                  Now my doubt is,I couldn"t understand why they used "AT" instead of "IN"-I don"t know whether "IN" is right or wrong but I would have used "IN" if I expressed that thought and I haven"t used "AT" like in  that sentence ever before.I would have said like this : I know oneday I"ll be good in Spanish.Now will you help me out with this doubt by telling which is correct preposition to use and why and why-not"s of using them.Thank you.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Good at and good in are both OK, and carry the same meaning.

CalifJim · Answer

It seems to me that good at is more generally used than good in, and that it's the only choice when a -ing word follows. good in is most used with academic subjects or fields of study.

He is good [at / *in] fixing cars.
He is good [at / in] mechanics.
He is good [at / *in] saying the right thing at the right time.
He is good [at / in] Spanish.
He is good [at / *in] speaking Spanish.

For example, when I hear The child is good in reading, I think that the child is making satisfactory progress in his reading class. When I hear The child is good at reading, I think that the child can read well.

CJ

David Little · Answer

Thank you Mister Micawber and CalifJim.

"AT" in "IN" doubt--help please

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