ever been TO/IN New York? Difference

cftranslate · Post by **cftranslate** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 12:46 pm

Are both correct? Are both heard? What is the difference between
Have you ever been to NY? and Have you ever been in NY?

Thanks

fluffyhamster · Post by **fluffyhamster** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 1:35 pm

'To' would logically proceed the 'in', and can thus substitute for it - NOT THAT WE EVER SAY 'IN NY' BY ITSELF (others may care to correct me, but I think the 'in' sentence there sounds most odd):

Note that we can, however, say things such as, 'Have you ever been to/been in NY over Christmas?' (something "statively" true for a duration of time), notionally comparable to 'Have you ever lived in NY?' or 'Were you in NY last Xmas?' (questions about property you own, specific facts of your life), all examples in which travelling/motion to(wards) is not the focus.

Andrew Patterson · Post by **Andrew Patterson** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 4:39 pm

English has an underlying metaphore of travel. If you can view sth as a journey, you probably should. For this reason, "to" is better.

fluffyhamster · Post by **fluffyhamster** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 4:52 pm

Ah, ye olde metaphore of travelle!

lolwhites · Post by **lolwhites** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 7:20 pm

There's nothing wrong with either form but the meaning is slightly different:

When I hear ...been to New York I imagine the whole caboodle (i.e. travelling to, staying in, and and returning from NY). On the other hand, when I hear ...been to New York I only think of the middle bit (i.e. the staying there, even though I know logically that that entails a journey to and from NY). I certainly don't see one as better than the other.

LarryLatham · Post by **LarryLatham** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 8:34 pm

I'll lend my weight to lolwhite's comments (although if I could edit his, I'd strike his second example of to New York and write in New York, since I think that's what he meant).

Both expressions are entirely normal and natural, and in fact, I don't think American English speakers would find either of them in the slightest odd. But as lolwhites says, they have slightly different meanings, which is to say, the image in the speaker's mind is slightly different when he chooses one instead of the other.

Larry Latham

lolwhites · Post by **lolwhites** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 3:20 pm

I'd better not edit it now, Larry, otherwise it would render your last post meaningless. At least you knew what I meant.