in the school cafeteria

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in the school cafeteria" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the specific location within a school where meals are served and students gather to eat. Example: "The students enjoyed their lunch in the school cafeteria, chatting and laughing with friends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Her portrait hangs in the school cafeteria.

The New York Times - Sports

A little girl helps out in the school cafeteria.

The New York Times - Books

Finally, one lunch hour in the school cafeteria, Sergei spoke to me.

The New Yorker

A smile from you in the school cafeteria made my day.

The New York Times

Five of the stricken children had also eaten in the school cafeteria, he said.

The New York Times

Who wouldn't, who ever had to eat tuna casserole in the school cafeteria?

The New York Times - Travel

They planned first to set off bombs in the school cafeteria to kill perhaps 600.

The New York Times

The fry takes well to baking in the school cafeteria, where it has found a market.

The New York Times

Then in 1996 he had a heart attack in the school cafeteria and died.

The New York Times - Sports

Teach your children to make healthy choices in the school cafeteria.

Harvard University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

It will be an extravagant, open-hearted, unapologetic, lavish, embarrassing-them-in-the-school cafeteria, kind of love.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a scene or event, use "in the school cafeteria" to clearly indicate the location, especially when focusing on student interactions or lunchtime activities.

Common error

Avoid using overly broad terms like "at school" when the specific setting of "in the school cafeteria" is more appropriate and provides a clearer picture to the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the school cafeteria" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase acting as an adverbial modifier, specifying the location of an action or event. Ludwig's examples show it being used to pinpoint where various activities or incidents occur within a school setting.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

12%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in the school cafeteria" is a common and grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to specify a location within a school. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and wide applicability, particularly within news and media contexts. While alternatives like "at the school canteen" or "in the lunchroom" exist, "in the school cafeteria" provides a clear and widely understood reference point. When writing, it's beneficial to use this phrase when the specific location is relevant to the narrative or description, avoiding vaguer terms like "at school" to maintain clarity. The frequency of use and authoritative sourcing contribute to its strong overall quality and reliability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inside the school's cafeteria

Adds "inside" and possessive "school's" without changing the meaning.

at the school canteen

Replaces "cafeteria" with "canteen", offering a slightly different term for the same location.

in the high school cafeteria

Specifies the type of school, adding a level of detail.

within the school cafeteria

Uses "within" for a more formal tone.

in the university cafeteria

Changes the educational level to "university", altering the context slightly.

at the lunchroom

Uses a different term, "lunchroom", to refer to the same place.

during lunchtime at school

Shifts the focus to the time of day and general location rather than the specific room.

in the dining hall at school

Uses "dining hall" instead of "cafeteria", implying a more formal setting.

at the school dining area

Replaces "cafeteria" with "dining area", using a more general term.

while having lunch at school

Focuses on the activity rather than the location, indicating a broader context.

FAQs

How can I use "in the school cafeteria" in a sentence?

You can use "in the school cafeteria" to specify the location of an event or activity, such as "The meeting was held "in the school cafeteria" after school hours".

What are some alternatives to saying "in the school cafeteria"?

You can use alternatives such as "at the school canteen", "in the lunchroom", or "at the school dining area", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "in the school cafeteria" and "at the school cafeteria"?

While both are acceptable, "in the school cafeteria" is generally preferred when emphasizing being inside the physical space, whereas "at the school cafeteria" can also refer to activities associated with it.

How can I improve the descriptions of locations within a school using "in the school cafeteria"?

Use "in the school cafeteria" to add specificity to events or actions. For instance, instead of saying "The incident happened at school", specifying "The incident happened "in the school cafeteria"" provides a clearer context.