on or in

ErylRavenwell · May 17, 2007

Do you say, "no longer on the police force", or is it, "no longer in the police force"? Perhaps both.

Thx.

J. Weiland · May 17, 2007

ErylRavenwell · May 17, 2007

"In" is employed more often, but some respectable sources do use "on". Can you stress further? "On" sounds more natural to me, although I can be certain "in" is a correct choice; but is it the only choice?

dub · May 17, 2007

This is the old "fugitive on the lamb" controversy, it's called a syllepis (I know, sounds like a social disease). Anyway it is an odd form and usage of language that is perfectly acceptable. That said, I agree, "no longer a member of," removes all question.

Tish Davidson · May 17, 2007

Or avoid the whole issue and save a few words with "no longer a police officer."

DeborahM · May 17, 2007

Quick reference:

ON is like on the table or on the desk.

IN is in a jar, in an association

ErylRavenwell · May 17, 2007

DeborahM said:
Quick reference:

ON is like on the table or on the desk.

IN is in a jar, in an association

Read Dub's post on epilepsy, oh syllepsis

. Don't try to make sense of this.

ErylRavenwell · May 17, 2007

Tish Davidson said:
Or avoid the whole issue and save a few words with "no longer a police officer."

Well, the problem remains unsolved meantime.

Prepositions usually have a power of elimination and read better fictionwise. I reckon "a member of" is the easy way. I try to avoid this style of writing.

Jamesaritchie · May 17, 2007

ON

It's "on" the police force, in the military.

newmod · May 18, 2007

I agree with Jamesaritchie, on the force.

ResearchGuy · May 18, 2007

ErylRavenwell said:
Do you say, "no longer on the police force", or is it, "no longer in the police force"?. Perhaps both.

"On." See definition 9, under preposition, for "on" in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: "Used to indicate belonging to: a nurse on the hospital staff." That form is identical to the form of "on the police force."

Or ask a cop.

--Ken

aliajohnson · May 18, 2007

It's definitely "on the force" if you're going for common usage among cops and military.

ErylRavenwell · May 18, 2007

Thanx guys.

Silver-tongued Devil · Jun 14, 2007

The choice of prepositions can become quite local. We know that most British seem to live in a street while most Americans tend to live on it. Each will tell the other that they are absolutely wrong.

Jamesaritchie · Jun 14, 2007

Choise

Silver-tongued Devil said:
The choice of prepositions can become quite local. We know that most British seem to live in a street while most Americans tend to live on it. Each will tell the other that they are absolutely wrong.

Both should say the other is right. The isnt a matter of locality, but of different countries who speak different languages that have different rules.

Just because two languages are called English does not mean they're the same language.

ErylRavenwell · Jun 14, 2007

Silver-tongued Devil said:
The choice of prepositions can become quite local. We know that most British seem to live in a street while most Americans tend to live on it. Each will tell the other that they are absolutely wrong.

"Living in a street" is British? I don't think so. In a city, on a street, at Number 10 Downing street.

Anyone who lives in a street doesn't live long. Sooner or later, a car will run him over.

on or in

ErylRavenwell

J. Weiland

Lurker

ErylRavenwell

dub

He ain't right...

Tish Davidson

DeborahM

I need espresso & chocolate!

ErylRavenwell

ErylRavenwell

Jamesaritchie

newmod

ResearchGuy

Resident Curmudgeon

aliajohnson

ErylRavenwell

Silver-tongued Devil

Jamesaritchie

ErylRavenwell