stay on/at the second floor ?

[ph2004]

What's correct : "He stays at/on the second floor." ?

 

[corum]

both okay

 

[Rover_KE]

'He stays on the second floor.'

Rover

 

[corum]

"stay on the * floor" - Google keresés

"on" gets 46.7 million

"stay at the * floor" - Google keresés

"at" gets 69.0 million

46 on, 69 at

 

[bhaisahab]

"stay on the * floor" - Google keresés

"on" gets 46.7 million

"stay at the * floor" - Google keresés

"at" gets 69.0 million

46 on, 69 at

"On the X floor" is correct. Google results should not be taken as proof of correct English usage. (or of any other language for that matter).

 

[Randombubbles]

Google results should not be taken as proof of correct English usage.

There must be some reason why "at" gets millions of hits, and why almost twice as many as "on".
I think in the right context "at" is possible.

- Where are you?
- I am at the 2nd floor and it takes more time till I can join you at he 100th floor.

 

[5jj]

Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA), a rather more relevant source than google for our purposes, gives 881 citations for 'on the second floor' and 17 for 'at' the second floor'.

 

[Randombubbles]

Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA), a rather more relevant source than google for our purposes, gives 881 citations for 'at the second floor' and 17 for 'on the second floor'.

Thanks. Agreed, but when millions of hits come up, I begin to trust google. :up:

 

[Jaskin]

hi,
Please note I'm not a teacher nor a native speaker;

I did a bit more refine searches I searched the phrases : "stay on the first|second|third|th floor"
and "stay at the first|second|third|th floor" for UK and USA.

UK:
"stay on the first|second|third|th floor" About 1,390,000 results
"stay at the first|second|third|th floor" 10 results

USA:
"stay on the first|second|third|th floor" About 3,510,000 results
"stay at the first|second|third|th floor" About 8,860,000 results

I believe that COCAC and BNC search would give similar results.

Cheers

 

[5jj]

when millions of hits come up, I begin to trust google. :up:

I've just got 275 million hits for 'I ain't', so that must be correct, then!

 

[Barb_D]

I"m at a loss to explain the number of hits for "at the second floor" for the American corpus. That makes no sense to me.

Stay at this hotel, sure, but on the second floor. I would never say "He prefers to stay at the second floor."

 

[5jj]

I"m at a loss to explain the number of hits for "at the second floor" for the American corpus. That makes no sense to me.

17 for at isn't that many when set against 881 for on.

ps. I have just seen Jaskin's post, below. Now I understand your surprise. Apologies for my blunder.

 

[Jaskin]

hi

17 for at isn't that many when set against 881 for on.

Then your post #7 needs to be edited.

Cheers

 

[5jj]

Then your post #7 needs to be edited.

Thanks for spotting that stupid slip.