What's the right way to say it - "in time" or "on time"?
2023-06-26
This is what goPenpal answered
Both "in time" and "on time" are correct, but they have different connotations. "On time" refers to doing something at the scheduled or agreed upon time, not late. For example: "She arrived on time for the meeting," means she arrived exactly when the meeting was scheduled to start.
On the other hand, "in time" usually means doing something before a deadline, and often with time to spare. For example, if we say, "He completed the report in time for the presentation," it suggests that he finished the report not just before the presentation started, but perhaps some time before.
To go deeper, envision "on time" as a dart hitting the bullseye on a dartboard, precise and to the moment, while "in time" is like a train making it into the station before it must depart—it might be a close call, or it could be well ahead of time. Mind these subtle differences when choosing which phrase to use, they can add a lot of nuance to your communication.
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