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on a surface vs at a surface

Both "on a surface" and "at a surface" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "On a surface" is used to indicate that something is physically touching or covering a surface, while "at a surface" is used to indicate proximity or location near a surface.

Last updated: March 21, 2024 • 800 views

on a surface

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that something is physically touching or covering a surface.

Use "on a surface" when you want to describe something that is physically touching or covering a surface. It implies direct contact with the surface.

Examples:

  • The book is on the table.
  • There are crumbs on the floor.
  • The cat is sleeping on the bed.
  • The painting is hanging on the wall.
  • The cup is on the shelf.
  • Surface is designed to display the screen in landscape orientation whenever you' re typing on a Surface Typing Cover or your Surface is connected to an ...
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Alternatives:

  • on the surface
  • on top of the surface
  • resting on the surface
  • lying on the surface
  • sitting on the surface

at a surface

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate proximity or location near a surface.

Use "at a surface" when you want to describe the location or proximity of something in relation to a surface, without necessarily implying direct contact.

Examples:

  • The cat is at the window.
  • She stood at the edge of the pool.
  • He placed the vase at the corner of the table.
  • The children were playing at the foot of the mountain.
  • The keys are at the bottom of the bag.
  • Relating to, on, or at a surface: surface algae in the water. 2. Relating to or occurring on or near the surface of the earth. 3. a. Superficial. b. Apparent as opposed ...
  • The attempt to plot a graph for these metrics has failed. The full text of this article is not currently available. Detection of cold metastable atoms at a surface.
  • The full text of this article is not currently available. Study of vibrational energy transfer at a surface by a time‐of‐flight method. Wei Yuan1 and B. S. Rabinovitch 1.
  • THE INTERACTION between electrons at a surface is In the random phase approximation we calculate the important for the surface energy [1], and calculations ...

Alternatives:

  • near a surface
  • close to the surface
  • adjacent to the surface
  • by the surface
  • beside the surface

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