Which is Correct: 'I Live in Lahore' or 'I Live at Lahore'?

When it comes to expressing where you reside, it's natural to wonder about the correct preposition to use. In many cases, the phrase 'I live in Lahore' is the appropriate choice. However, there are nuances and conventions governing the usage of 'in', 'at', 'near', and 'on' in different contexts.

General Usage and Conventions

The correct phrase is "I live in Lahore." When referring to cities or large towns, we typically use 'in.' It is generally accepted that 'at' is used for specific locations or addresses, as in "I live at 123 Main Street." This rule simplifies the use of prepositions, making it easier to communicate your location accurately.

Contextual Examples

Maria used to live in Tucson but moved to Boulder, where she resides at an address that was once a girls’ Catholic boarding school, now converted into a retirement community. Throughout my childhood, we lived in New Jersey, but now we reside on an island part of Massachusetts. My brother lives in New Hampshire at an old farm known as Weatherfield. Our children live in Florida and Colorado.

These examples illustrate how prepositions are used in different contexts to convey specific locations. The choice of preposition depends on the level of specificity and the type of location being referenced.

Examples in Practice

Let's delve into more specific examples to better understand when to use 'in' versus 'at.'

Consider the case of Arshad Munir who shared a true story about living in Lahore during his teenage years. He attended the Lahore American School and stayed at the home of his English teacher, retired Colonel and Mrs. Dice, during his time in Lahore. His father was an international mining engineer working for the U.S. State Department, and they lived in Quetta, but when there was no American school there, they sent Arshad and his twin to schools in Lahore, Murree, and New Delhi.

The proper preposition in these cases is 'in' to indicate a city or area, but 'at' can be used for more specific locations such as addresses or buildings. For instance:

- I live in Lahore

- I live at Parkside Villa in Lahore

- I live on the second floor at Parkside Villa in Lahore

- Lahore is in Pakistan

It is important to note that the preposition 'on' is used for specific locations like streets, such as “I live on Main Street.”

The Controversy Surrounding 'At'

Some might argue that 'at' can be used to indicate residing in a city, as in “I live at Lahore.” However, this usage is less common and can be confusing. For clarity, the phrase “I live in Lahore” is preferred. This choice is especially important when referring to much larger geographies like cities, states, or countries.

Key Takeaways

To summarize, you should use 'in' for large areas such as cities or countries, 'at' for more-specific places like buildings, 'near' if you are close to the location, 'far from' if you are far away from a location, and 'on' for streets. For example:

I live in Lahore I live at Parkside Villa I live on the second floor at Parkside Villa Lahore is in Pakistan It is not correct to say I live at Lahore

Remember, the rule is to use 'in' for large areas and 'at' for specific locations. This helps ensure that your statements are clear and easily understood by your audience.

For further guidance, you can refer to the following additional resources:

Sarah Madden's answer to What is it like to visit Pakistan? Roger George's answer to Which is correct: 'I live in Lahore' or 'I live at Lahore'

Image: Himalayan Get Away
Copyrighted 4 December 2019, updated 24 January 2024