In vs. During – Which is Correct?
Both words are correct prepositions, but they are not always interchangeable. Use in for broad periods, durations, or situations within a larger timeframe; use during for a specific event or period when something happens. In many sentences, both are possible, but during emphasizes the activity itself.
In or During – Which is Correct?
In and during are both correct American English prepositions. The main difference is emphasis. In commonly identifies a point within a period, the amount of time needed for an action, or a general situation. During identifies something that happens throughout or at some point within a particular event or named period.
Use in with months, years, seasons, parts of the day, and future time periods: in July, in 2026, in winter, and in the morning. It also appears in expressions such as in two hours, meaning “two hours from now” or “within two hours.”
Use during with events and bounded periods: during the meeting, during the summer, during the concert, and during the war. It focuses on what occurred while that event or period was taking place.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use this simple mental test: if you mean “how long until something happens,” choose in; if you mean “while an event is happening,” choose during.
For example, The train will arrive in ten minutes tells you the amount of time before arrival. However, I read during the journey tells you when the reading occurred. You can also remember that during usually needs the name of an event or period, while in often introduces a calendar period or a length of time.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| in | Preposition | Within a period, situation, place, or amount of time | We will finish the project in three days. |
| during | Preposition | At some point throughout a particular event or period | She took notes during the lecture. |
How to Use In
In is a highly flexible preposition. It can refer to time, place, condition, language, manner, or a situation. In time expressions, it commonly introduces months, years, decades, centuries, seasons, and parts of the day: in March, in 1999, in the 1980s, in spring, and in the afternoon.
In also expresses the amount of time before an event occurs or the time required to complete an action. For example, The package should arrive in five days means that five days will pass before the package arrives. Similarly, She completed the test in an hour describes the length of time required for completion.
In descriptions of situations, in can mean “while experiencing” or “within the circumstances of.” Examples include in danger, in trouble, in love, and in a hurry. It is neutral in tone and appears equally in casual conversation, academic writing, journalism, and formal communication.
Example 1: The new library opened in September.
Example 2: We expect the repairs to be complete in two weeks.
Example 3: He made an important discovery in the early stages of the experiment.
Etymology of the word In
In comes from Old English in, meaning “in,” “into,” or “within.” It is related to similar words in other Germanic languages, including German in and Dutch in. Its basic meaning of being inside or within gradually expanded into its many modern uses involving time, condition, manner, and circumstance.
How to Use During
During introduces the time when something takes place within a particular event, activity, or period. It is followed by a noun phrase, not normally a complete clause. Common combinations include during the meeting, during class, during the summer, during the holidays, and during the night.
Unlike in, during does not usually describe how much time is needed before an action occurs. Therefore, The train will arrive during ten minutes is incorrect when the intended meaning is “after ten minutes.” The correct sentence is The train will arrive in ten minutes.
During can describe one moment within a period or an activity continuing throughout it. For example, Someone called during the movie may refer to one call, while It rained during the storm describes conditions throughout the relevant event. The word is neutral and suitable for both everyday and formal writing.
Example 1: Please keep your phone silent during the presentation.
Example 2: Many businesses changed their procedures during the pandemic.
Example 3: I met several interesting people during my trip to Canada.
Etymology of the word During
During developed from the Old French verb se durer, meaning “to last” or “to continue.” English first used forms related to during to express continuation or endurance. Over time, the word became a preposition meaning “throughout the time that” or “at some point within” a stated period or event.
Related Concepts
Understanding time expressions and prepositions makes the distinction between in and during easier to apply accurately.
- Time prepositions: Prepositions such as in, on, and at identify different levels of time. Use in for broader periods, on for days and dates, and at for precise times.
- Duration: Duration describes how long something lasts. Expressions such as for three hours state length, while in three hours commonly states how long it will take before something occurs.
- Events and periods: A named event or bounded period can follow during, as in during the interview or during the holiday.
- Time clauses: A time clause contains a subject and verb, as in while the meeting was taking place. Use during before a noun phrase, not usually before a complete clause.
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples reflect common patterns found in journalism, film dialogue, historical writing, and literature:
- News writing: A report may state, “The city experienced heavy flooding during the storm,” because the storm is a specific event.
- Historical writing: A history book may explain that many families migrated during the Great Depression, identifying the period in which the migration occurred.
- Film dialogue: A character might say, “I’ll call you in an hour,” using in to describe the time until the call.
- Travel writing: A memoir may say, “We visited several villages during our journey,” because our journey is the event containing the visits.
- Literary narration: A novel might describe a character who “grew more confident in the following months,” using in with a broader period.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence. In some cases, both words may be grammatically possible, but select the one that best matches the intended meaning.
- The package should arrive ___ three business days.
- Several students asked questions ___ the lecture.
- She lived in Madrid ___ 2018.
- He fell asleep ___ the movie.
- The company introduced new safety rules ___ the winter.
Answer Key
- in — This expresses the time until the package arrives.
- during — The questions occurred within a specific event.
- in — A year takes in.
- during — The movie is a specific event.
- during — The rules were introduced within a particular season or period.
In Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| within | Inside a place, limit, period, or specified amount of time |
| inside | Located or occurring within an enclosed space or boundary |
| by | No later than a stated time or deadline |
| through | From one side or stage to another, sometimes involving a period or process |
During Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| while | At the same time as an event or action; usually followed by a clause |
| throughout | From the beginning to the end of a period or event |
| in the course of | At some point while an activity, process, or period is occurring |
| amid | In the middle of or surrounded by a situation or event |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is it correct to say “in the meeting” or “during the meeting”?
Both can be correct, but they have different emphasis. During the meeting means while the meeting was taking place. In the meeting can mean as part of the meeting or among the people attending it, although during the meeting is usually clearer for a time reference.
Question 2: Should I say “in the summer” or “during the summer”?
Both are correct. In the summer commonly identifies when something happens, while during the summer emphasizes that it occurs within the summer period. In American English, in the summer is especially common in general statements.
Question 3: Is “during two hours” correct?
Usually, no. Use for two hours to state duration, or in two hours to state the time until something happens or the time required to complete it. Use during with an event or period, such as during the two-hour meeting.
Conclusion
In and during are both correct, but they serve different purposes. Use in for broad time periods, deadlines, amounts of time, and general situations. Use during for actions or events occurring within a specific period or activity. Pro Tip: Choosing the precise preposition improves clarity and strengthens your professional reputation in emails, reports, and formal writing.
