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Prepositions before nouns

"in town" or "of town"?

In town is a common expression for being in a city or local area. Of town is not normally used by itself.

Quick answer

Common uses with town

Use in town to mean in the local area or present in a city. Of town is uncommon alone, but appears in longer phrases such as the centre of town or mayor of the town.

Are you in town this weekend?
She is in town for a conference.
the centre of town was crowded

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
in town

Being in the local area

Use in town for presence in a city or local area.

My parents are in town until Monday.
2
out of town

Being away from the area

Out of town is the opposite expression.

The manager is out of town this week.
3
centre of town

Describing location inside a town

Of town appears naturally in fixed location phrases.

a hotel near the centre of town
4
mayor of the town

Showing relationship to a town

Of the town links a role or feature to a specific town.

the mayor of the town welcomed visitors

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
in town
Is Daniel in town today?
present in the area or city
of town
The phrase alone is not standard.
usually part of a longer expression
out of town
She is out of town on business.
away from the area
centre of town
They live near the centre of town.
the middle area of a town

Common mistakes

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

Using of town by itself

Use a complete phrase such as centre of town.

✕ We stayed of town. ✓ We stayed in town.

Confusing in town and downtown

In town means in the area; downtown refers to a city centre.

✕ I am downtown for the weekend. ✓ I am in town for the weekend.

Missing the article in of phrases

Specific references often need the.

✕ the mayor of town ✓ the mayor of the town

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Are you ___ town this Friday?
2. She is out ___ town on business.
3. They opened a café near the centre ___ town.

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Frequently asked questions

What does in town mean?

It means present in a particular city or local area.

Is of town correct English?

Not usually by itself. It appears in longer expressions such as centre of town.

What is the opposite of in town?

The common opposite expression is out of town.

"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"?

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