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at school vs in the school

Both 'at school' and 'in the school' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'At school' is used to refer to the general idea of being present at a school, while 'in the school' is used to talk about being inside the physical building of a school.

Last updated: January 21, 2025 • 1794 views

at school

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate being present at a school.

Use 'at school' to talk about activities or events that happen while you are present at a school. It indicates the general idea of being at the school location.

Examples:

I study at school every day.
She plays basketball at school.
What time do you arrive at school?
The students are having a party at school.
He forgot his lunch at 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
on the school premises
while at school
at the educational institution

in the school

This phrase is correct but less commonly used in English. It is used to refer to being inside the physical building of a school.

Use 'in the school' when you want to specifically talk about being inside the school building. It is more specific than 'at school' and refers to a physical location.

Examples:

The principal is in the school today.
The books are kept in the school library.
There is a meeting in the school gym.
The students are not allowed in the school after hours.
She left her bag in the school cafeteria.

Show examples from the web [+]

Mar 28, 2015 ... You can say ...in the school. when talking about something that happened, happens, is happening, will happen, or could happen, ...
... in the school's five theaters; at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully and David Geffen halls and at Carnegie Hall; as well as at other venues around New York City ...
Sep 27, 2016 ... ... in the school meal programs. Previous Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) guidance on this issue was included in FNS Instruction 783-2, Rev. 2 ...

Alternatives:

inside the school
within the school
within the school building
within the educational institution
inside the school premises

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