Prepositions (like: โon, in, atโ) can be confusing for non-native English speakers. These little words are tricky because sometimes itโs the same in Hebrew as it is in English, but in other instances, itโs different than it is in Hebrew, and if you use the wrong preposition, it can change the meaning entirely.
For example, if I say โIโm at a playโ, it means Iโm at the theater watching a play. However, if I say โIโm in a playโ, it means Iโm one of the actors performing on stage. Thatโs a big difference, right?
So, letโs talk about the difference between โon the wayโ and โin the wayโ so that you donโt say the wrong thing to your boss. As I mentioned, in Hebrew thereโs no difference between these expressions, but in English these two expressions mean two very different things.
โOn the wayโ means that you are in the process of getting to a certain destination. For example, letโs say I have a meeting with my manager at 11:00am, and he calls me on my cell a few minutes before 11:00 to check if I have left my office yet. In this situation, if I have already left my office I would say โIโm on the wayโ. Meaning, I have left my office and I am now in the process of getting to my managerโs office.
โIn the wayโ means that there is an obstacle blocking your path. For example, letโs say I need to get something out of my desk drawer, but I canโt because your chair is blocking the drawer. In this situation, I would politely ask you if you could move your chair, because itโs โin the wayโ. The chair is an obstacle blocking my path toward opening the desk drawer.
Letโs try another exampleโฆ What if we agree to meet for lunch, but youโre running late. So, you tell me to come to your office and wait there, while you finish up whatever youโre doing. I donโt want to interfere with your ability to do whatever you need to do, so I might say something like this: โAre you sure? I donโt want to be in the way?โ Meaning, I donโt want to be an obstacle to your progress in finishing that task.
As you can see, being โin the wayโ can be either a physical obstacle, (like the chair), or it can be a non-physical obstacle, (like me possibly interfering with your progress).
Rememberโฆ you will probably use โon the wayโ when talking to your boss. For example: โYes, Iโm on the wayโ or โIs the customer on the way?โ
Be careful not to tell your boss that he/she is โin the wayโ. You probably donโt want to call your boss an obstacle.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I hope todayโs post has been helpful. Let us knowโฆ ๏
And join us next week for more helpful tips on Mistake-free Mondays.
