How To Use IN, AT and ON in Reference to Time, Days, Cities Towns

Often we find problems with the use of the prepositions “in”, “at” and “on” in reference to time, days, cities, towns, etc. The following is a guide.

1. Use "in" for countries e.g. In Ghana, In Spain, etc.

2. Use "in" for capital cities/regional capitals, e.g. In Accra, In Kumasi, In Madrid, In London, etc.

3. Use "at" for towns/suburbs, e.g. At Spintex, At Kasoa, etc.

4. Use "at" to express time e.g. at 5.30pm, etc.

5. Use "in" for continents, e.g. in Africa, in Europe, etc. 

6. Use "in" to introduce months, e.g. in March, in April.

7. Use "in" to introduce years, e.g. in 2016, in 1998.

8. Use "on" to introduce days, e.g. on Tuesday, on Friday.

9. Use "in" to describe a time period in the day, e.g. "in" the morning, "in" the afternoon, "in" the evening, "in" the night. (NOTE: However, we can use "at" for dawn and night. For example, “at dawn”, “at night”.

© Eric Nuamah Korankye