in, at, by, for, on, over, until, during, from, to
Which are used for time spans? for pinpointing time? for a deadline? for denoting before a time, rather than a deadline? for holiday periods? for days, months, years?
Test yourself and see if you can use each preposition at least once
- ‑— Monday
- — July
- — 2024
- — 2022 — 2024
- — Friday COB*
- — Easter, Christmas
- — the summer
- — 2.30 — 3 p.m.
- — 4 p.m.
Answer key
- on Monday (time), by Monday (deadline), until Monday (up to, before)
- in July (time), by July (deadline), from July (starting point), over July (during that period, time span), until July (up to, before July)
- in 2024, during 2024, until 2024 (up to, before)
- from 2022 to 2024 (time span)
- by Friday COB (deadline), until Friday COB (up to, before)
- at Easter, at Christmas (pinpoint time), over Easter, over Christmas (time span), during Christmas (time span), until Christmas (up to, before)
- in the summer (pinpoint time), over/during the summer (time span), until the summer (up to, before)
- from 2.30 to 3 p.m. (time span)
- at 4 p.m. (pinpoint time), by 4 p.m. (deadline), until 4 p.m. (up to, before)
* COB = close of business
________________________________________________
Carol Waites (PhD)
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