"in turn" vs "by turn"

Question

"in turn" vs "by turn"

Both 'in turn' and 'by turn' are correct phrases, but they are used in different contexts. 'In turn' is used to describe actions or events that happen one after another in a sequence, while 'by turn' is used to indicate the order in which people or things take their respective turns.

Last Updated: March 29, 2024

Use 'in turn' to indicate that something happens after something else in a sequence or order.

Examples:

Each player took their shot in turn.
The team members presented their findings in turn.
The guests arrived in turn throughout the evening.

Alternatives:

sequentially
one after another
successively
in sequence
in order

Use 'by turn' to describe the order in which individuals or items take their turns or perform actions.

Examples:

The students answered the questions by turn.
The employees will clean the office by turn.
The children will have their snacks by turn.

Alternatives:

in rotation
alternately
one after the other
in sequence
in order

Answer 1

in turn

The phrase 'in turn' is correct and commonly used in English to describe actions or events that happen one after another in a sequence.

Answer 2

by turn

The phrase 'by turn' is correct and commonly used in English to indicate the order in which people or things take their respective turns.

"in turn" vs "by turn"

in turn

by turn

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