In or At The Beginning

at in prepositions of time

You want to refer to the start of an action or event, but you're uncertain if you should say in the beginning or at the beginning?

"In" or "At The Beginning" in the English grammar

Which One Should Be Used?

Both 'in the beginning' and 'at the beginning' are correct, but they are not interchangeable. There is a subtle difference between them that even native speakers might overlook.

In the beginning

'In the beginning' is usually used to describe the start of something, such as a story or a historical event. It implies the beginning of a process or a sequence of events. It is often used in a more general sense to describe the start of something without specifying a particular time or place. For example:

In the beginning, the universe was empty and dark.

In the beginning, no one could tell what he meant but when he showed a picture, we all understood.

At the beginning

On the other hand, 'at the beginning' is used to refer to a specific time or place that marks the start of something. It is often used to describe the initial stage of a process or a sequence of events. Take a look at the following examples:

At the beginning of the race, the runners were lined up at the starting line.

Here, we are referring to the specific point at which something starts

We don't use a comma at the beginning of the sentence.

Are They Interchangeable?

While the phrases 'in the beginning' and 'at the beginning' are similar in meaning, they are not always interchangeable. As I mentioned earlier, 'in the beginning' is often used in a more general sense to describe the start of something without specifying a particular time or place, while 'at the beginning' is used to refer to a specific time or place that marks the start of something.

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