at school

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at school" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate where something is taking place. For example, "I spend a lot of time studying at school."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She excels at school.

The New York Times - Books

You were at school".

The New Yorker

Rosio asked at school.

The New Yorker

Kids drill at school.

The New York Times

She was teased at school.

The New York Times - Arts

We were at school together".

The New Yorker

Perhaps they were at school.

Independent

No other weapons at school.

The New York Times

An administrator back at school?

The New York Times - Sports

Their children struggle at school.

The Economist

What went wrong at school?

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at school" to clearly indicate that someone or something is located or occurring within the school environment. For instance, "The meeting will take place at school after classes."

Common error

Avoid using "in school" interchangeably with "at school" in all contexts. "In school" often refers to being enrolled or a student, while "at school" indicates a physical location. For example, say "She is at school now" to mean she's physically present, and "She is still in school" to mean she's still a student.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at school" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase of place, modifying a verb to specify where an action occurs. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a common and accepted English phrase. The examples demonstrate its use in various sentence structures to indicate location.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

8%

Reference

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at school" is a very common and grammatically sound prepositional phrase that functions as an adverbial of place. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread usage. It is used across various contexts, from news and media to formal business communications, primarily to specify the location of an action or state of being within a school environment. While generally neutral in register, context determines its specific nuance. To avoid confusion, remember that "at school" indicates physical presence, while "in school" generally describes enrollment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in school

Uses a different preposition to indicate location, slightly more formal.

during school hours

Specifies the time frame when the action occurs, emphasizing the school schedule.

while attending school

Highlights the action of attending school as the context for another action.

on the school premises

More formal, emphasizes the physical location of the school.

in the classroom

Refers specifically to the location of the classroom within the school.

within the school building

Emphasizes the structure where educational activities take place.

during term time

Focuses on the period when school is in session, common in British English.

as a student

Shifts the focus to the role of being a student.

under the instruction of the school

Highlights the guidance and education provided by the institution.

receiving education

Highlights the action of receiving education or instruction.

FAQs

How do I use "at school" in a sentence?

Use "at school" to indicate someone's presence or an activity happening within the school's physical location. For example, "The children are "at school" learning about history."

What can I say instead of "at school"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "in school" (if referring to enrollment), "on campus" (if referring to a college or university), or "during school hours".

Which is correct, "at school" or "in school"?

"At school" generally refers to being physically present at the school. "In school" often refers to being enrolled as a student. So, "She is "at school"" means she is physically there, while "She is in school" means she is a student.

What's the difference between "at school" and "on campus"?

"At school" is a general term for any educational institution, while "on campus" specifically refers to a college or university setting. You wouldn't say "The elementary school is on campus."