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In Time vs On Time – Correct Usage

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Hello Readers! Very often in English communication, especially when we want to express our punctuality, we get confused between these phrases, In-Time vs On-Time. We may have observed many times that ‘in time’ is used in various sentences, and ‘on time’ is used in many instances too. So, are both of them correct? When is the phrase ‘in-time’ used? When is ‘on time’ used? We shall discuss all those aspects in this article along with some examples regarding both the types.

In Time vs On Time Usage

 

In-Time vs On-Time – Correct Usage

To answer in a simple way, ‘in time’ means ‘within the prescribed period’ or ‘not being late’. ‘On-time’, on the other hand, means exactly at the prescribed time without being early or late.

  • In-time = Early  / Not being Late
  • On-time = Neither early nor late, punctual, exactly at the prescribed time.

Let us see some examples to gain more clarity

  1. The train left the railway station on time.
  2. I have reached the station in time to catch the train.

In the first example, ‘on-time‘ is used since the train left the station exactly when it should- neither before the prescribed time nor after. The time is set and the departure should happen exactly by that time. 

In the second example, ‘in-time‘ is used because it portrays a meaning that I have reached the station before the departure time of the train. 

In-Time vs On-Time: Example Sentences

In-Time :

  1. I have reached the parade arena in time. 
  2. Can I reach the examination center in time if I start now?
  3. I arrived at the book exhibition in time before they closed it for the day.
  4. You’re already running late. You can’t reach the airport in time to catch the flight.
  5. She reached home in time to hug and kiss her children before they went to sleep.

On-Time 

  1. The train is set to arrive at the station on time. 
  2. He received his salary on time this month.
  3. That bus reaches the station late more often than on time.
  4. They will not allow anyone into the examination center after the exam starts on time at 9:30 AM.
  5. he managed to pay all his debts exactly on time this month. 

Hope the “In-Time vs On-Time” conundrum is solved. Make sure you check out – Its vs It’s and Above vs Over

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its vs it’s – basic mistake to avoid while writing!

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Hello learners! Welcome. In this article on ‘Its vs It’s’ we are going to learn the basic mistake that we commit while using these words and also how to avoid the same. We shall also see various example sentences with ‘Its’ and ‘It’s’ so that we can remember the correct usage.

Its vs It's - Basic Mistake to Avoid

its vs it’s – Basic mistake to avoid

The confusion between the words ‘its’ and ‘it’s’ arises because of the same spelling and pronunciation these words have. One of the words is a contracted form of ‘It is’ and one is a Possessive form of the Pronoun ‘It’. The question is which is the contracted form and which is the possessive pronoun.

Another reason for the confusion is that the formation of Possessive Nouns and Possessive Pronouns. We generally form the Possessive Noun for a given noun by placing apostrophe followed by ‘s’ at the end of the noun. But remember that for Pronouns the possessive forms are not formed by placing Apostrophe followed by ‘s’ but simply by placing ‘s’ at the end of the objective case of the base pronoun.

For example, the Possessive form of the noun Book is ‘book’s’ but the possessive form of the pronoun ‘she’ is ‘hers’ but not ‘her’s’ (‘her’ is the objective case of the base pronoun ‘she’).

So, in the present comparison ‘its vs its’, the word ‘Its’ is the possessive form of the Pronoun ‘It’. And ‘It’s’ is the contracted form of ‘It is’.

A trick to remember the above usages is – whenever you see ‘it’s’, expand it to ‘it is’, and if the sentence makes sense, then the usage is correct. Otherwise, change it to ‘Its’.

Example: 

It’s raining now – if expanded to ‘it is raining now ‘- makes sense, hence the usage is correct.

It’s length is 100 meters – if expanded to ‘It is length is 100 meters’ – makes no sense, hence the usage is incorrect.

Exercise on Its vs It’s:

Find the correct sentences 

  1. Its our duty to help others in need
  2. The box is kept on the table. It’s yellow.
  3. Its you who are to be blamed for the mistake.
  4. The battery in the wall clock should be replaced as It’s capacity is over.
  5. It’s hot out there. Please stay indoors.

Post your answers in the comment section below.

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