standing at the side of the road vs standing on the side of the road

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'Standing at the side of the road' implies a more general location near the road, while 'standing on the side of the road' suggests a more specific position directly beside the road surface.

Last updated: March 11, 2024 • 3194 views

standing at the side of the road

This phrase is correct and commonly used to indicate a general location near the road.

This phrase is used to describe someone standing in the vicinity of the road without specifying the exact position beside the road surface.

Examples:

I saw a man standing at the side of the road waiting for a bus.
The children were playing at the side of the road.
The old house stood at the side of the road, hidden by overgrown bushes.
She parked her car at the side of the road and walked to the store.
The signpost was placed at the side of the road for better visibility.

Show examples from the web [+]

If you are not in the car but are standing at the side of the road, then the headlights of the car will make a beam of very high-energy photons (maybe x- rays, ...
May 2, 2014 ... The trucks screamed past a young goateed American paleontologist named Nicholas Pyenson, who was standing at the side of the road, ...
How will the path appear to a friend standing at the side of the road? The path will be that of projectile motion, a parabola. The horizontal motion will be motion at ...
An hour away from home, The lights come on. Standing at the side of the road, I am in awe. Amongst the snow and trees, The freezing cold, I thrive on each ...

Alternatives:

standing near the side of the road
standing by the side of the road
standing beside the road
standing close to the road
standing alongside the road

standing on the side of the road

This phrase is correct and commonly used to indicate a specific position directly beside the road surface.

This phrase is used when describing someone standing in a specific location directly beside the road, often on the shoulder or pavement.

Examples:

The car broke down, so they had to pull over and stand on the side of the road.
The cyclist was standing on the side of the road, fixing a flat tire.
The police officer was standing on the side of the road, directing traffic.
The joggers were standing on the side of the road, catching their breath.
The vendors set up their stalls on the side of the road for the market.

Show examples from the web [+]

1 day ago ... Both drivers got out of their vehicles and were standing on the side of the road when a white BMW swerved and hit one of the drivers. He was ...
Here's A Photo Of Two Guys Standing On The Side Of The Road Begging For Money For Their Startup. Karyne Levy. Sep. 17, 2014, 4:43 PM; 4,524; 10.
... never did like mama's homemade dress Papa's bank book wasn't big enough And I was standing on the side of the road Rain falling on my shoes Heading out ...
Auto Accident While Standing on the Side of the Road... by Anonymous (USA). We were with our car, broke down on the side of the road. While we were ...

Alternatives:

standing by the road
standing beside the road
standing next to the road
standing alongside the road
standing on the roadside

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standing at the side of the road vs standing on the side of the road