You would likely sit on a chair when you need to get some work done in your home office.
Would it be the same to get some work done “on” your home office while sitting “in” a chair?
Many people confuse the words “in” and “on” when speaking or writing for one simple reason: they associate area or volume when none exists.
If you sit in something, that means you’re “inside” it. When you sit “on” something, you’re on top of it.
That’s why you can sit IN or ON a chair and still be grammatically correct.
Sit IN a Chair vs. Sit ON a Chair
It is proper English to say that you sit “in” or “on” a chair. The issue involves the style used for sitting. When the design closes around an individual, most people would describe that verb as “in.” Should it be more open or flat, they would be more apt to say “on” to discuss what they saw happening.
Unless an individual can see the chair style from their perspective, it would be impossible to know whether “in” or “on” was the correct descriptor.
That’s why it is up to the speaker or author to imply the correct result to ensure proper communication.
◼️ When To Use “In” When Writing or Speaking
The English language typically uses the word “in” for enclosed areas, whether inside or outside, to paint an accurate picture with words for the reader or listener. Here are a few examples to review that use this structure.
“I work in a large office cubicle.”
“We went for a long walk in the park because it was a beautiful day.”
“She put the coffee in the cup so that I could wake up.”
“He shot the basketball, and it went in the hoop.”
“The baker put too much sugar in the cake.”
One of the easiest ways to remember using the word “in” is to think about areas and volumes.
The same logic applies to neighborhoods, houses, and chairs. When you can put yourself into a specific area, that means “in” is more appropriate to use than “on.”
Let’s look at how the sentences would sound if we swapped out the words.
“I work on a large office cubicle.”
“We went for a long walk on the park because it was a beautiful day.”
“She put the coffee on the cup so that I could wake up.”
“He shot the basketball, and it went on the hoop.”
“The baker put too much sugar on the cake.”
The shift causes the entire sentence to take on a different meaning.
◼️ When to Use “On” When Writing or Speaking
It is more appropriate to use the word “on” when describing a surface. As with the word “in,” this principle applies to indoor or outdoor environments.
Using this language structure creates the circumstances needed for the reader to picture the scene or description with accuracy. Here are some examples to review that use this specific structure.
“I am sitting on the bathroom floor.”
“I lie on the bed when I want to fall asleep.”
“He finished hanging all the family photos on the wall.”
“We like to watch Ted Lasso on Apple TV.”
“Did you get my message that I sent to you on Whatsapp?”
Even though some of the descriptions might include items that include volumes, it is usually more appropriate to say “on” because you’re “on top” of the surface.
What about getting in bed at night?
Some people might say they get into bed at night, avoiding the word “on” for that sentence. This option is a little different because when you get “in” a bed, it indicates you’re getting beneath blankets and sheets.
When that happens, you have an area. Without it, you have a surface.
That means I’d get “in” bed when I crawl under the covers and get “on” the bed when I’m sitting there without taking any other actions.
Let’s change the sentences from “on” to “in” to see how they change.
“I am sitting in the bathroom floor.”
“I lie in the bed when I want to fall asleep.”
“He finished hanging all the family photos in the wall.”
“We like to watch Ted Lasso in Apple TV.”
“Did you get my message that I sent to you in Whatsapp?”
You’ll notice that in this sequence, a couple of the sentences make sense when used with “in” because of the nature of the subject.
That’s why the sentence’s context is essential to review when distinguishing between “in” and “on.” It lets the reader or listener know what is getting discussed accurately.
How Is It Possible to Sit Inside a Chair?
The issue that comes up with the difference between “in” and “on” a chair involves the thought of being “inside.” When we picture being inside something, it is a description that involves being encompassed or surrounded by it. We don’t always think of an open area as still being space.
If you are in a home, you’ve gone through an entry and are now inside of it. When you sit in a car, you’re surrounded by the interior.
It doesn’t matter if the doors or windows are open or shut. Once you go inside, you’re “in.”
How can you crawl into a chair the same way?
The answer is that you cannot. Although small children might crawl underneath a chair, this furniture’s structure makes it impossible to fit inside the framework. That’s why some people justify the “on” expression for every situation.
It depends on the descriptions used by the speaker or listener.
When a chair refers to the space it occupies, it would be more appropriate in English to say that you say “in” it. That reference indicates you’re filling that area.
If you only want to describe the act of sitting, “on” would be more appropriate.
Since both options often convey the same message, you can typically use both choices without worrying about miscommunication.
