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at the surface vs on the surface

Both 'at the surface' and 'on the surface' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'On the surface' is more commonly used to mean something is superficially true or evident, while 'at the surface' is used more literally to refer to something physically located at the surface of an object or area.

Last updated: March 22, 2024 • 4576 views

at the surface

This phrase is correct and is used to refer to something physically located at the surface of an object or area.

This phrase is used when describing something that is positioned or located directly on the surface of an object or area.
  • Get responders at the surface and take him out.
  • Wide at the surface, tapering to a narrow point deep in the tissue.
  • Imprisoned speech, ...hovering at the surface.
  • Test Daphnia in the control groups must not have been trapped at the surface of the water.
  • It begins here, with a colony of living fossils, bacteria who live at the surface of the ocean, called stromatolites.
  • Because on Earth, almost all - 99.9 percent - of the methane is produced by living systems, not little green men, but microscopic life below the surface or at the surface.
  • - I mean it's good, but I sense you're just scratching at the surface.
  • Take equal portions from five to ten different places in the pile both at the surface and at various depths to constitute a sample.
  • Can we get a closer look at the surface?
  • And I'm almost at the surface, and boom, the second one just shoves me even deeper.
  • You can see where the oil is concentrated at the surface, and then it is attacked, because they don't want the evidence, in my opinion.
  • And as you go down, the washing machine at the surface calms down.
  • Only to be used as a co-monomer up to 0,35 % w/w to produce modified polyesters intended to be used in contact with aqueous and dry foodstuffs containing no free fat at the surface.
  • a complete meniscus is formed at the surface but an appreciate amount of the sample remains solid
  • force at the surface of the roller(s)
  • The nets are left to drift in the wind and the current, either at the surface or deeper down, on their own or attached to the vessel which lowered them.
  • The temperature at the surface of the sea has increased at global level over the last 100 years to 0.6%, which means that we shall probably have much more frequent and stronger cyclones in future.
  • the ability to treat fluids that emerge at the surface after high-volume hydraulic fracturing is considered during the selection of the chemical substances to be used.
  • the fluids that emerge at the surface following high-volume hydraulic fracturing: return rate, volumes, characteristics, quantities reused and/or treated for each well;
  • Stage D a complete meniscus is formed at the surface but an appreciable amount of the sample remains solid.

on the surface

This phrase is correct and is commonly used to mean something is superficially true or evident.

This phrase is used when describing something that appears to be true or evident, but may not be the whole truth or the underlying reality.
  • It moves on the surface and below.
  • Going one way on the surface, but underneath getting pulled in another direction.
  • But on the surface, the murders have opposing motives.
  • The people now only know Seung Jo on the surface.
  • A little eccentric on the surface, but deep down sound.
  • Radar does the same thing on the surface.
  • A few clues to the original city can still be found on the surface today...
  • Nothing on the surface could escape from it.
  • The atmosphere on the surface can't support life.
  • Cameo rest right on the surface.
  • He said he had information about a terrorist attack being planned on the surface.
  • Greater things await us here on the surface.
  • We could use you equally well up on the surface.
  • We could use you equally well up on the surface.
  • They were being chased up on the surface by one of those terrible Robonoids.
  • This is just a scratch on the surface.
  • You're only seeing what's on the surface.
  • No sign of Symbiotes on the surface.
  • Lt Marquez has set up on the surface.
  • There'd be nothing to show on the surface.

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