At home

USAGE SUMMARY

It is correct and can be used in written English.
It typically refers to the place of residence, activity, or familiarity and can be used in a variety of contexts. For example, "I'm feeling more and more comfortable at home these days."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At home or abroad?

Forbes

At Home in Academia.

Science Magazine

At home?

The New York Times - Arts

at home. at home.

The New York Times

If I'm at home.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Clinton seemed at home.

The New Yorker

Do it at home".

The New York Times

They live at home".

The New York Times

They stayed at home.

The New York Times

A celebrity at home.

The New Yorker

He looked at home.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing sports games use "at home" to indicate when the game is played at the team's venue.

Common error

Avoid using "to home" when you mean "at home". "To home" is not standard English. Instead of saying "I went to home", say "I went home" or "I went back home".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "At home" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs and indicating location or state of being. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound. For example, "I am staying at home tonight" uses it to specify where the action of staying takes place.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Wiki

21%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

13%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "At home" is a versatile and very commonly used prepositional phrase functioning as an adverbial modifier. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and serves to indicate location, comfort, or availability across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media and Wiki-based content. While its usage is generally neutral to informal, its presence in authoritative sources like the New York Times and Forbes reinforces its validity in various communication settings. Avoid the error of saying "to home". Finally, you can enhance clarity by focusing on the emotional or domestic aspect rather than just physical location. Some good alternatives are "in residence", "in one's abode" or "in familiar surroundings".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

At one's place

A shorter, more casual way of saying "at one's home".

In the house

A more literal and basic way of expressing being in one's dwelling.

In residence

Focuses on the location aspect, similar to "at home" but sounds more formal.

In one's abode

Replaces "home" with a more formal synonym, maintaining the location aspect.

In familiar surroundings

Shifts the focus to the comfort and familiarity of the environment.

In a comfortable setting

Highlights the ease and relaxation associated with being "at home".

In the homeland

Adds a patriotic tone, implying the home country.

On the premises

A formal expression for being within the bounds of the property.

In domesticity

Focuses on the activities and comforts of home life.

Within these walls

Emphasizes the enclosed and private nature of being at home.

FAQs

How can I use "at home" in a sentence?

You can use "at home" to indicate your location (e.g., "I am staying "at home" tonight"), to describe a feeling of comfort (e.g., "I feel "at home" when I'm with my family"), or to talk about someone's availability (e.g., "The doctor is "at home" to receive visitors").

What are some alternatives to saying "at home"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "in residence", "in one's abode", or "in familiar surroundings" if you want to emphasize comfort and familiarity.

Is it grammatically correct to say "I'm going to home" instead of "I'm going home" or "I'm going to be at home"?

No, "I'm going to home" is not grammatically correct. The correct phrases are "I'm going home" or "I'm going to be "at home"". The preposition "to" is unnecessary and incorrect in this context when used with "home" as an adverb.

What's the difference between saying someone is "at home" versus "homely"?

Saying someone is ""at home"" means they are physically present in their residence or feel comfortable in a certain environment. "Homely", on the other hand, typically describes someone (usually a woman) who is not particularly attractive or something that is simple and plain but comfortable.