Sign In Get Started
Prepositions with nouns

In class or of class?

In class is the standard expression for being during a lesson or inside a lesson setting. Of class is not a normal equivalent in modern English.

Quick answer

Which phrase is correct?

Use in class to mean during a lesson or while attending a class. Of class is generally not idiomatic unless class is part of a larger structure such as members of a class.

Phones must be silent in class.
We discussed the topic in class yesterday.
The top students of the class received awards.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
in class

Talking about lessons or classroom time

Use in class for activities that happen during a lesson or course session.

She never speaks in class.
We watched a video in class today.
2
class of + year/group

Identifying a graduating group or category

Class of is a fixed expression for a graduating year or named group.

He belongs to the class of 2027.
The class of 1998 held a reunion.
3
of the class

Referring to members or qualities of a class

Of the class can describe something connected to a specific group.

The strongest student of the class won the prize.
Many members of the class attended the event.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
in class
Students cannot use laptops in class.
during a lesson or in the learning session
of class
The phrase of class alone is unusual.
not a standard equivalent of in class
class of
She is in the class of 2026.
a graduating or grouped cohort
of the class
The youngest of the class answered first.
belonging to or part of a specific class

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using of class for classroom activities

Use in class for actions during lessons.

✕ We talked about it of class. ✓ We talked about it in class.

Omitting the article in of the class

The phrase usually needs the article the.

✕ She is the best student of class. ✓ She is the best student of the class.

Confusing in class with in the classroom

In class focuses on the lesson, not only the physical room.

✓ Students must participate in class.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Students should not eat ___ during the lecture.
2. She graduated with the ___ 2025.
3. The best singer ___ performed tonight.

Check your sentence in context

Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

Free to try · No signup required

Frequently asked questions

Is of class ever correct?

Not as a replacement for in class. It appears only inside larger structures such as class of 2024 or members of the class.

What is the difference between in class and in the classroom?

In class refers to the lesson or learning activity. In the classroom refers to the physical location.

Can I say during class instead of in class?

Yes. During class is also natural when referring to the time of the lesson.

"in act" or "of act"? "in agreement" or "of agreement"? "in appearance" or "of appearance"? "in area" or "of area"? in, at, on, of or to hand? "in attempt" or "of attempt"? "in battle" or "of battle"? "in celebration", "of celebration" or "for celebration"? "in chain" or "of chain"? "in chapter" or "of chapter"? "in charge" or "of charge"? "in check" or "of check"?

Write with confidence in Linguix

Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.

Create a free account