What is the difference between “in” and “within”?

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14
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It seems they can be used interchangeably but I am not sure. Can somebody explain the difference of use between these two key words? Where do they become different?

edited Aug 31 '11 at 18:10

Theta30

1,77752137

asked Aug 31 '11 at 17:27

Tarik

1,228143645

You certainly can't use them interchangeably in all contexts - in can be used in many places where within is totally wrong. If OP is unsure, I suggest sticking to in, which would rarely if ever be unacceptable.
– FumbleFingers
Aug 31 '11 at 17:32

add a comment |

up vote
14
down vote

favorite

It seems they can be used interchangeably but I am not sure. Can somebody explain the difference of use between these two key words? Where do they become different?

edited Aug 31 '11 at 18:10

Theta30

1,77752137

asked Aug 31 '11 at 17:27

Tarik

1,228143645

You certainly can't use them interchangeably in all contexts - in can be used in many places where within is totally wrong. If OP is unsure, I suggest sticking to in, which would rarely if ever be unacceptable.
– FumbleFingers
Aug 31 '11 at 17:32

add a comment |

up vote
14
down vote

favorite

It seems they can be used interchangeably but I am not sure. Can somebody explain the difference of use between these two key words? Where do they become different?

edited Aug 31 '11 at 18:10

Theta30

1,77752137

asked Aug 31 '11 at 17:27

Tarik

1,228143645

It seems they can be used interchangeably but I am not sure. Can somebody explain the difference of use between these two key words? Where do they become different?

meaning prepositions

edited Aug 31 '11 at 18:10

Theta30

1,77752137

asked Aug 31 '11 at 17:27

Tarik

1,228143645

edited Aug 31 '11 at 18:10

Theta30

1,77752137

asked Aug 31 '11 at 17:27

Tarik

1,228143645

edited Aug 31 '11 at 18:10

Theta30

1,77752137

edited Aug 31 '11 at 18:10

Theta30

1,77752137

edited Aug 31 '11 at 18:10

Theta30

1,77752137

asked Aug 31 '11 at 17:27

Tarik

1,228143645

asked Aug 31 '11 at 17:27

Tarik

1,228143645

asked Aug 31 '11 at 17:27

Tarik

1,228143645

You certainly can't use them interchangeably in all contexts - in can be used in many places where within is totally wrong. If OP is unsure, I suggest sticking to in, which would rarely if ever be unacceptable.
– FumbleFingers
Aug 31 '11 at 17:32

add a comment |

You certainly can't use them interchangeably in all contexts - in can be used in many places where within is totally wrong. If OP is unsure, I suggest sticking to in, which would rarely if ever be unacceptable.
– FumbleFingers
Aug 31 '11 at 17:32

You certainly can't use them interchangeably in all contexts - in can be used in many places where within is totally wrong. If OP is unsure, I suggest sticking to in, which would rarely if ever be unacceptable.
– FumbleFingers
Aug 31 '11 at 17:32

add a comment |

3 Answers
3

active

oldest

votes

up vote
20
down vote

accepted

Within is closer to inside - it mainly refers to something like a building where you are physically in (or inside).

In can also mean a state or an organisation, so you can be "in trouble", or "in school" but not "within trouble".

edited Aug 31 '11 at 20:36

Daniel

47k59229352

answered Aug 31 '11 at 17:33

mgb

21.9k23687

The other answer makes a good point too: You can't always substitute in for within (or inside).
– Bradd Szonye
Apr 20 '13 at 11:38

@mgb What about the example sentence "the algorithm is able to detect people in/within google-earth images"? Is within acceptable/preferable in this case?
– halirutan
Aug 12 '16 at 10:17

@halirutan, no 'within an image' wouldn't be normal, Generally always use 'in' unless you know different.
– mgb
Aug 12 '16 at 19:11

@mgb, For <within> vs <inside>?
– Pacerier
May 9 '17 at 17:39

add a comment |

up vote
1
down vote

In- A limit of some sort.

i.e. "In 6 days,..."

You limit the time in the sentence exactly.

Within- Inside the said limit.

i.e. "Within 6 days,..."

You limit the time in the sentence, but inside the said time.

answered Jan 20 '17 at 15:02

Tyla

111

add a comment |

up vote
-4
down vote

where ever there is a certainty we use in and in uncertainty we use within.

I will come in next week. - Use IN-

I will come within this week - Use within

Also, if some timeframe is allocated ie : do the work in ten minutes

Then if the work is completed in 10 min then use in and if completed before 10 min then within.

edited Apr 20 '13 at 14:56

Kit Z. Fox♦

23.3k1993179

answered Apr 20 '13 at 11:31

Ayushi Mishta

1

I will come in next week does not mean (what I surmise you are trying for) "I will come in the next week". "I will come within the week" means the latter, but the way to express your last point is "I will come in a week's time".
– TimLymington
Apr 20 '13 at 11:43

add a comment |

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3 Answers
3

active

oldest

votes

3 Answers
3

active

oldest

votes

up vote
20
down vote

accepted

Within is closer to inside - it mainly refers to something like a building where you are physically in (or inside).

In can also mean a state or an organisation, so you can be "in trouble", or "in school" but not "within trouble".

edited Aug 31 '11 at 20:36

Daniel

47k59229352

answered Aug 31 '11 at 17:33

mgb

21.9k23687

The other answer makes a good point too: You can't always substitute in for within (or inside).
– Bradd Szonye
Apr 20 '13 at 11:38

@mgb What about the example sentence "the algorithm is able to detect people in/within google-earth images"? Is within acceptable/preferable in this case?
– halirutan
Aug 12 '16 at 10:17

@halirutan, no 'within an image' wouldn't be normal, Generally always use 'in' unless you know different.
– mgb
Aug 12 '16 at 19:11

@mgb, For <within> vs <inside>?
– Pacerier
May 9 '17 at 17:39

add a comment |

up vote
20
down vote

accepted

Within is closer to inside - it mainly refers to something like a building where you are physically in (or inside).

In can also mean a state or an organisation, so you can be "in trouble", or "in school" but not "within trouble".

edited Aug 31 '11 at 20:36

Daniel

47k59229352

answered Aug 31 '11 at 17:33

mgb

21.9k23687

The other answer makes a good point too: You can't always substitute in for within (or inside).
– Bradd Szonye
Apr 20 '13 at 11:38

@mgb What about the example sentence "the algorithm is able to detect people in/within google-earth images"? Is within acceptable/preferable in this case?
– halirutan
Aug 12 '16 at 10:17

@halirutan, no 'within an image' wouldn't be normal, Generally always use 'in' unless you know different.
– mgb
Aug 12 '16 at 19:11

@mgb, For <within> vs <inside>?
– Pacerier
May 9 '17 at 17:39

add a comment |

up vote
20
down vote

accepted

Within is closer to inside - it mainly refers to something like a building where you are physically in (or inside).

In can also mean a state or an organisation, so you can be "in trouble", or "in school" but not "within trouble".

edited Aug 31 '11 at 20:36

Daniel

47k59229352

answered Aug 31 '11 at 17:33

mgb

21.9k23687

Within is closer to inside - it mainly refers to something like a building where you are physically in (or inside).

In can also mean a state or an organisation, so you can be "in trouble", or "in school" but not "within trouble".

edited Aug 31 '11 at 20:36

Daniel

47k59229352

answered Aug 31 '11 at 17:33

mgb

21.9k23687

edited Aug 31 '11 at 20:36

Daniel

47k59229352

edited Aug 31 '11 at 20:36

Daniel

47k59229352

edited Aug 31 '11 at 20:36

Daniel

47k59229352

answered Aug 31 '11 at 17:33

mgb

21.9k23687

answered Aug 31 '11 at 17:33

mgb

21.9k23687

answered Aug 31 '11 at 17:33

mgb

21.9k23687

The other answer makes a good point too: You can't always substitute in for within (or inside).
– Bradd Szonye
Apr 20 '13 at 11:38

@mgb What about the example sentence "the algorithm is able to detect people in/within google-earth images"? Is within acceptable/preferable in this case?
– halirutan
Aug 12 '16 at 10:17

@halirutan, no 'within an image' wouldn't be normal, Generally always use 'in' unless you know different.
– mgb
Aug 12 '16 at 19:11

@mgb, For <within> vs <inside>?
– Pacerier
May 9 '17 at 17:39

add a comment |

The other answer makes a good point too: You can't always substitute in for within (or inside).
– Bradd Szonye
Apr 20 '13 at 11:38

@mgb What about the example sentence "the algorithm is able to detect people in/within google-earth images"? Is within acceptable/preferable in this case?
– halirutan
Aug 12 '16 at 10:17

@halirutan, no 'within an image' wouldn't be normal, Generally always use 'in' unless you know different.
– mgb
Aug 12 '16 at 19:11

@mgb, For <within> vs <inside>?
– Pacerier
May 9 '17 at 17:39

The other answer makes a good point too: You can't always substitute in for within (or inside).
– Bradd Szonye
Apr 20 '13 at 11:38

@mgb What about the example sentence "the algorithm is able to detect people in/within google-earth images"? Is within acceptable/preferable in this case?
– halirutan
Aug 12 '16 at 10:17

@halirutan, no 'within an image' wouldn't be normal, Generally always use 'in' unless you know different.
– mgb
Aug 12 '16 at 19:11

@mgb, For <within> vs <inside>?
– Pacerier
May 9 '17 at 17:39

add a comment |

up vote
1
down vote

In- A limit of some sort.

i.e. "In 6 days,..."

You limit the time in the sentence exactly.

Within- Inside the said limit.

i.e. "Within 6 days,..."

You limit the time in the sentence, but inside the said time.

answered Jan 20 '17 at 15:02

Tyla

111

add a comment |

up vote
1
down vote

In- A limit of some sort.

i.e. "In 6 days,..."

You limit the time in the sentence exactly.

Within- Inside the said limit.

i.e. "Within 6 days,..."

You limit the time in the sentence, but inside the said time.

answered Jan 20 '17 at 15:02

Tyla

111

add a comment |

up vote
1
down vote

In- A limit of some sort.

i.e. "In 6 days,..."

You limit the time in the sentence exactly.

Within- Inside the said limit.

i.e. "Within 6 days,..."

You limit the time in the sentence, but inside the said time.

answered Jan 20 '17 at 15:02

Tyla

111

In- A limit of some sort.

i.e. "In 6 days,..."

You limit the time in the sentence exactly.

Within- Inside the said limit.

i.e. "Within 6 days,..."

You limit the time in the sentence, but inside the said time.

answered Jan 20 '17 at 15:02

Tyla

111

answered Jan 20 '17 at 15:02

Tyla

111

answered Jan 20 '17 at 15:02

Tyla

111

answered Jan 20 '17 at 15:02

Tyla

111

add a comment |

up vote
-4
down vote

where ever there is a certainty we use in and in uncertainty we use within.

I will come in next week. - Use IN-

I will come within this week - Use within

Also, if some timeframe is allocated ie : do the work in ten minutes

Then if the work is completed in 10 min then use in and if completed before 10 min then within.

edited Apr 20 '13 at 14:56

Kit Z. Fox♦

23.3k1993179

answered Apr 20 '13 at 11:31

Ayushi Mishta

1

I will come in next week does not mean (what I surmise you are trying for) "I will come in the next week". "I will come within the week" means the latter, but the way to express your last point is "I will come in a week's time".
– TimLymington
Apr 20 '13 at 11:43

add a comment |

up vote
-4
down vote

where ever there is a certainty we use in and in uncertainty we use within.

I will come in next week. - Use IN-

I will come within this week - Use within

Also, if some timeframe is allocated ie : do the work in ten minutes

Then if the work is completed in 10 min then use in and if completed before 10 min then within.

edited Apr 20 '13 at 14:56

Kit Z. Fox♦

23.3k1993179

answered Apr 20 '13 at 11:31

Ayushi Mishta

1

I will come in next week does not mean (what I surmise you are trying for) "I will come in the next week". "I will come within the week" means the latter, but the way to express your last point is "I will come in a week's time".
– TimLymington
Apr 20 '13 at 11:43

add a comment |

up vote
-4
down vote

where ever there is a certainty we use in and in uncertainty we use within.

I will come in next week. - Use IN-

I will come within this week - Use within

Also, if some timeframe is allocated ie : do the work in ten minutes

Then if the work is completed in 10 min then use in and if completed before 10 min then within.

edited Apr 20 '13 at 14:56

Kit Z. Fox♦

23.3k1993179

answered Apr 20 '13 at 11:31

Ayushi Mishta

where ever there is a certainty we use in and in uncertainty we use within.

I will come in next week. - Use IN-

I will come within this week - Use within

Also, if some timeframe is allocated ie : do the work in ten minutes

Then if the work is completed in 10 min then use in and if completed before 10 min then within.

edited Apr 20 '13 at 14:56

Kit Z. Fox♦

23.3k1993179

answered Apr 20 '13 at 11:31

Ayushi Mishta

edited Apr 20 '13 at 14:56

Kit Z. Fox♦

23.3k1993179

edited Apr 20 '13 at 14:56

Kit Z. Fox♦

23.3k1993179

edited Apr 20 '13 at 14:56

Kit Z. Fox♦

23.3k1993179

answered Apr 20 '13 at 11:31

Ayushi Mishta

answered Apr 20 '13 at 11:31

Ayushi Mishta

answered Apr 20 '13 at 11:31

Ayushi Mishta

1

I will come in next week does not mean (what I surmise you are trying for) "I will come in the next week". "I will come within the week" means the latter, but the way to express your last point is "I will come in a week's time".
– TimLymington
Apr 20 '13 at 11:43

add a comment |

1

I will come in next week does not mean (what I surmise you are trying for) "I will come in the next week". "I will come within the week" means the latter, but the way to express your last point is "I will come in a week's time".
– TimLymington
Apr 20 '13 at 11:43

I will come in next week does not mean (what I surmise you are trying for) "I will come in the next week". "I will come within the week" means the latter, but the way to express your last point is "I will come in a week's time".
– TimLymington
Apr 20 '13 at 11:43

add a comment |

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