at school vs At the school

Both 'at school' and 'at the school' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'At school' is used when referring to the general concept of being at an educational institution, while 'at the school' is used when referring to a specific school that has been previously mentioned or is known to the listener.

Last updated: March 23, 2024 • 1847 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when referring to the general concept of being at an educational institution.

"at school"

Use 'at school' when talking about being present at an educational institution in a general sense.

Examples:

I study hard at school.
She plays basketball at school.
Do you have any friends at school?
What time do you usually arrive at school?
I need to buy some supplies for school.

Show examples from the web [+]

There's nothing important at school today anyways.
Jonah Greenbaum ate a caterpillar at school.
He was a skinny kid who snapped and stabbed a bully at school.
Probably started a magazine at school.
I pity the boys at school.
She said she was stuck at school.
They learned about diabetes at school today.
Jeff had vaccination day at school yesterday.
Your behavior at school today was unacceptable.
So what we learned at school is...
Vitus should be at school not kindergarten.
No, you may not approach Kathy at school or anywhere else.
I'm raising money to have more bunnies at school.
There was a mother's day lunch at school.
I'm getting a medal at school because I put out a fire.
You see him at school every day anyway.
She said you left it at school.
Eric needs to be picked up at school.
You were never like this at school.
Then I dropped Alice off at school.

Alternatives:

in school
during school hours
while at school
at the educational institution
at the learning center

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when referring to a specific school that has been previously mentioned or is known to the listener.

"At the school"

Use 'at the school' when referring to a specific school that has been mentioned or is known to the listener.

Examples:

I will meet you at the school gate.
The event will take place at the school auditorium.
Parents are welcome to visit us at the school.
The students are having a picnic at the school field.
The principal is at the school today.

Show examples from the web [+]

At the school, when we broke in.
They got some gifted program at the school. I don't know.
They leave it for me at the school.
He never intended to dump the body at the school.
At the school in Turczynek young people were suffused with that theory.
Dr. Morgan recently enrolled her son at the school where Dana taught.
Just wanted to take some things for a memorial at the school.
But I bumped into Liz at the school and...
I heard what really happened at the school.
The teachers at the school tried to.
The teachers at the school tried to.
I'm still at the school helping Xander.
Diana, we need backup at the school right now.
There were these things at the school.
But there were four mums at the school that day.
If the wraith damaged your house, there are cots at the school.
Again, I had just arrived at the school.
He spoke at the school about bullying.
He says there are police cars at the school.
There are tryouts at the school this Friday.

Alternatives:

at that school
at our school
at their school
at this school
at a school nearby

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at school vs At the school

"at school"

"At the school"

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