In Meeting vs. On Meeting – Which is Correct?
When describing workplace discussions, say “in a meeting” to mean participating in a scheduled meeting. Say “on a meeting” only in limited regional or workplace-tech usage; “on a call” is more natural. Without an article, “in meeting” and “on meeting” usually require a special grammatical context, such as gerunds alone.
In Meeting or On Meeting: Which Is Correct?
The standard workplace expression is “in a meeting.” It means that someone is attending or participating in a meeting. For example, you might say, “She is in a meeting and will call you later.”
“On a meeting” is sometimes heard in business, technology, and international workplace English, especially when speakers mean that someone is connected to a virtual meeting. However, many native English speakers consider it less natural than “in a meeting” or “on a call.”
The versions without the article—“in meeting” and “on meeting”—are not normally interchangeable with “in a meeting.” They can be grammatical in special structures, such as in meeting the requirements or on meeting the deadline, where meeting functions as a gerund.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the room test: if you could say that someone is physically or virtually inside the meeting, use “in a meeting.” If you are talking about a phone or video connection, use “on a call” rather than “on a meeting.”
Use “on meeting” only when it means upon meeting or after meeting, as in “On meeting the new director, I introduced myself.”
| Word or Phrase | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| in a meeting | Prepositional phrase | Participating in a scheduled meeting | “I’m in a meeting right now.” |
| on a meeting | Prepositional phrase | Connected to a meeting; less standard in general English | “He is on a meeting with the overseas team.” |
| in meeting | Preposition plus gerund | While accomplishing or encountering something | “In meeting the requirements, the team earned approval.” |
| on meeting | Preposition plus gerund | Upon or after meeting someone or something | “On meeting her mentor, she asked several questions.” |
How to Use In a Meeting
“In a meeting” is the normal and widely accepted expression for describing attendance at a meeting. It works in formal, casual, spoken, and written English. The article a is important because meeting is being used as a countable noun referring to one particular event.
Use “in a meeting” when someone is attending, participating in, or unavailable because of a meeting. It is also appropriate for virtual meetings, even though the participants may not be in the same physical room.
Example 1: I can’t answer the phone because I’m in a meeting.
Example 2: Our manager is in a meeting with the finance department.
Example 3: Please send me the report while you are in a meeting with the client.
Etymology of the Phrase In a Meeting
Meeting comes from the Old English verb mētan, meaning “to meet” or “to come together.” The noun developed from the idea of people coming together for a shared purpose. The preposition in expresses participation or involvement, producing the modern phrase in a meeting.
How to Use On a Meeting
“On a meeting” appears in some varieties of workplace and international English, particularly when people are discussing online collaboration platforms. In those contexts, a speaker may say that someone is “on a meeting” to mean that the person is connected to a virtual meeting.
Nevertheless, this expression is less idiomatic for many English speakers. In polished professional communication, “in a meeting” is usually the safest choice. If the emphasis is on a telephone or video connection, “on a call” is more natural.
Example 1: The director is on a meeting with the regional offices. (Used in some workplace varieties.)
Example 2: I’m on a call with the technical support team. (More natural standard phrasing.)
Example 3: She is in a meeting on Zoom until three o’clock. (Generally preferred.)
Etymology of the Phrase On a Meeting
The preposition on is traditionally associated with contact, connection, or participation in activities, as in on the phone, on a call, and on television. The expression on a meeting likely developed by extending this pattern to virtual meetings, although it has not become equally natural in all varieties of English.
Related Concepts
Understanding prepositions, articles, and gerunds makes the difference between these expressions easier to recognize.
- Prepositions of place and participation: The preposition in can describe involvement in an activity, as in in a meeting. The preposition on often describes connection to a device or communication channel, as in on a call.
- Articles with countable nouns: A singular countable noun usually needs an article or another determiner. Therefore, in a meeting is standard, while in meeting requires a different grammatical structure.
- Gerunds: In phrases such as on meeting the candidate, meeting acts like a noun formed from a verb. It means “when” or “after” someone meets the candidate.
- Virtual-meeting vocabulary: English commonly uses in a meeting, on a call, joining a meeting, and attending a video conference.
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples reflect common patterns found in journalism, business writing, film dialogue, and literary narration.
- News reporting: A business article may explain that an executive was “in a meeting with regulators” before making a public announcement.
- Workplace drama: In office-based television scenes, an assistant may say, “She’s in a meeting,” to explain why a colleague cannot take a call.
- Technology reporting: Articles about remote work commonly use “in a virtual meeting” or “on a video call,” rather than “on a meeting.”
- Literary narration: A novel might use the construction “On meeting the stranger, he recognized the distinctive voice,” meaning “when he met the stranger.”
- Business correspondence: A professional email may state, “I will be unavailable because I am in a meeting from 10:00 to 11:00.”
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word or phrase to complete each sentence. Consider whether the sentence describes participation in a meeting, connection to a call, or the act of meeting someone.
- Could you call me later? I am ___ a meeting.
- The consultant is ___ a video call with the client.
- ___ the new supervisor, I immediately noticed her confidence.
- He was ___ a meeting when the delivery arrived.
- ___ the safety requirements, the company received its permit.
Answer Key
- in a meeting — This is the standard expression for participating in a meeting.
- on a video call — “On a call” is more natural than “on a meeting.”
- On meeting — Here, the phrase means “when meeting” or “after meeting.”
- in a meeting — The sentence describes attendance at a meeting.
- In meeting — Here, meeting is a gerund meaning “satisfying” or “fulfilling.”
In a Meeting Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Attending a meeting | Being present at or participating in a meeting |
| Participating in a meeting | Taking an active role in a meeting |
| In conference | Taking part in a formal discussion or conference |
| In a session | Participating in an organized period of discussion or instruction |
On a Meeting Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| On a call | Connected to or participating in a telephone or video call |
| On a conference call | Taking part in a call involving multiple participants |
| Connected to a virtual meeting | Joined to an online meeting platform |
| Joining a meeting | Entering or connecting to a scheduled meeting |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is it correct to say “I am in meeting”?
Usually, no. Say “I am in a meeting” when you mean that you are attending a scheduled meeting. “In meeting” can be correct when meeting is a gerund, as in “In meeting the deadline, the team solved a major problem.”
Question 2: Is “on a meeting” grammatically correct?
It is used in some workplace varieties, especially for online meetings, but it is less widely accepted as standard idiomatic English. Use “in a meeting” or “on a call” in most professional situations.
Question 3: Should I say “in a meeting” or “on a call” for an online meeting?
Both can be correct, but they emphasize different things. Use “in a meeting” for participation in the meeting itself and “on a call” for the phone or video connection.
Question 4: Is “on meeting” ever correct?
Yes. In a formal or literary construction, “on meeting” means “when meeting” or “after meeting,” as in “On meeting the author, I asked about the book.” It is not the usual phrase for attending a workplace meeting.
Conclusion
Use “in a meeting” when you mean that someone is attending or participating in a meeting. Use “on a call” for telephone or video communication, and reserve “on meeting” and “in meeting” for special gerund constructions. Pro Tip: Choosing the standard phrase “in a meeting” in professional emails and conversations helps your communication sound clear, polished, and credible.
