on or in

[ErylRavenwell]

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


Thx.

[J. Weiland]

...

[ErylRavenwell]

"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]

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]

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

[DeborahM]

Quick reference:

ON is like on the table or on the desk.

IN is in a jar, in an association

[ErylRavenwell]

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]

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]

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

[newmod]

I agree with Jamesaritchie, on the force.

[ResearchGuy]

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]

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

[ErylRavenwell]

Thanx guys.

[Silver-tongued Devil]

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]

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]

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. :)