"On the underground" vs "in the underground"

Question

Which is correct?

I travel on the underground/subway to work.

I travel in the underground/subway to work.

I'd choose the first option as we say on a bus/tram/street car.

related: Is there a connection between the various “states of being” that you can be “on”? — Matt E. Эллен, Jan 28 '12 at 10:10
related: Why “step into a car” but “step onto a plane” — Matt E. Эллен, Jan 28 '12 at 10:12
You already seem to know which one you want to use. I don't see any value in this question, it's not usefully different from the others. — Matt E. Эллен, Jan 28 '12 at 10:48

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 28 '12 at 07:22

5

You can use by with most forms of transport. You can say you’re going by land, by air, by sea, by car, by train, by ship, and by underground. You can also travel, or be, on a train, on a bus, on a tram and on the underground (note the change of article). You cannot, however, normally travel, or be, on a car.

(In and on, and also by, are not articles, but prepositions.)

answered Jan 28 '12 at 07:22

Barrie England

140,205

1

NGram says we Brits go on the underground twice as often as by the underground. Or we go by tube. – FumbleFingers Jan 28 '12 at 15:47
All the above, but under the boardwalk. :-) – MetaEd Jan 29 '12 at 00:43

"On the underground" vs "in the underground"

1 Answers1