ESEN
Which one to use?Beginnernounpreposition
InnvsIn
'Inn' is a pub, tavern, or small hotel; 'in' is the preposition of location, or the adjective meaning fashionable.
Side-by-side comparison
Inn
noun"Inn" is a small hotel or pub offering food, drink, and lodging, especially in rural areas. Many British pubs include "Inn" in their name. It has two n's.
They stopped at a country inn for the night, halfway along the hiking trail.
The Inn at the Edge of the World had been welcoming travellers since 1782.
He ordered a pint at the village inn and asked about local walking routes.
In
preposition"In" is one of the most versatile English prepositions: inside a space, in a state, within a time period. "In fashion" = trendy. Just one n.
She arrived in the office early to prepare before the team meeting.
Sustainable packaging is very much in right now, clients expect it by default.
He handed in his resignation letter quietly and left without a scene.
Common mistake
- •"They stayed at an in near the mountains" when meaning the lodging is wrong: the small hotel or pub is "inn".
- •"In" is the preposition of location.
Trick to remember it
- •"Inn" has double N like "running" and "stunning": qualities of a cosy country inn.
- •"In" has single N, short and functional like a preposition should be.
Quick rule
- •Is it the pub or small hotel? "Inn".
- •Is it the preposition of location? "In".
Did you know?
"Inns" are a fundamental part of British historical culture. Many have names centuries old: The King's Head, The Black Swan, The Red Lion. The Inns of Court in London. Lincoln's Inn, Gray's Inn, Inner Temple, Middle Temple, are the four institutions of the English bar where barristers train and must belong. The word "inn" comes from Old English "inn" (room, lodging), related to the Germanic "inne" (inside, within), the same root as the preposition "in." Over time, the noun evolved to mean "the place you go into" (to stay), while the preposition kept the original meaning of "within." Two words from the same origin that went in completely different directions.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
They stayed at a cosy old _____ in the countryside for the weekend.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
She left her keys _____ the car. She had to call a locksmith.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
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AffectvsEffect
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AislevsIsle
'Aisle' is the walkway between rows of seats or shelves; 'isle' is a small island.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy