When should you use the prepositions "in" and "on"?

When should you use “in” or “on”?

The prepositions “in” and “on” are some of the most troublesome function words (words that only show grammatical relationship and have little semantic essence e.g., prepositions, determiners etc.) ??in English.

There are several circumstances when you should use “in” or “on.” But how do you know which one to use in a given situation?

Interestingly, if you place both “in” and “on” side by side, you’d be making a sense because you can be in on something (take part in something e.g. I am in on organising the event). You can of course be in on a group (to have an insider information about a group).

Despite the fact that their meanings are different, they are closely affiliated with each other in functionality. Oxford Learners Dictionary lists 18 functions for each of them.

Some of these functions overlap in such a way that the onus falls on the user in given circumstances to make them collocate with the best nouns that help bring out the precise meaning intended.

If care is not taken, you’d be using “in” where you should be using “on” because both of them show direction, motion, place, position. Also, the primary meaning of these prepositions may not help in cases of idiomatic use.

It is no wonder then that much confusion arises when people use “in” and “on” in utterances. The circumstances below are specific with words that collocate with “in” or “on.” You can come up with more examples or situations where you think they should be used.

In a group or on a group?

It is an age when people belong to different groups online. Do you say that you are on or in a group? Both “in” and “on” reflect position and place in this instance. What then determines your choice of proposition where belonging to a group is concerned?

A group is not a physical surface or platform to stand on, a sense of inclusion/belongingness thus overrides that of positioning, direction, or being an outer part of something. So you speak of being in a WhatsApp group; in a group of experts; in a writers’ group.

In a team or on a team?

You can either be in or on a team depending on the kind of English you speak (Australian/British/American) and the meaning intended. American English would prefer “on a team,” while British/Australian English always goes with “in a team.”

However, note that when the word “team” is involved, what determines your choice is if you regard the team as a group of people or a list of people or team roster.

If you consider “team” as a group of people, you’d be fine with this utterance, “I am in a group of sports writers. If you consider “team” as a list of people, you’d be correct to say, “I am on the team roster/list for the week.”

Considering co-texts

The verbs you use as co-texts of “in” and “on” can also shift your meaning. Let’s place the verb work in different situations around the two prepositions in question. If you work on a team, your function is ambiguous; you work as a team member/ it could also mean you are overseeing the functions of the team members (you are working to get the best out of the team as a whole).

If you work in a team, we begin to wonder whether the intent is to stress membership or location. It is thus not appropriate to just stop at “I work in a team,” without adding a prepositional phrase e.g. I work in a team of UI/UX designers.?

If you use the verb “play” in relation to sports, you can only play in a team and not on a team. E.g., “Taiye Taiwo once played in the Nigerian national team.” “Rice has lost his place in the England team.”

In committee or on committee?

You can only be on a committee. You can serve on the committee for so, so, and so. It shows you are a member of the committee. There are however circumstances where “in” collocates with committee.

You can be in a committee meeting. There can be a disagreement in the committee. It reflects place. The expression “in committee” refers to a meeting held behind closed doors where members of public and municipality are not allowed. The meeting is confidential as no notes are taken during the meeting.

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