At night / In the night

[ROBINDESBOIS]

What is the difference between the 2 of them?

[poli]

There's only a fine difference between the terms and they can often be used interchangable. At night is en la noche, but in the night may be a bit more poetic meaning a dentro de la noche. You may hear the term somewhere in the night. Somewhere at night doesn't sound good at all, and I have never heard it said.

[Perikles]

These are examples off the top of my head where they are not interchangeable, perhaps because they are set collations:

Strangers in the night
Things that go bump in the night


But 'at night' is 6 times more common than 'in the night' (BNC)

[Rusty]

@Perikles: collocations

@poli: I've heard and used 'somewhere at night' very often (perhaps it's a regional difference). According to Google, it's used more often than 'somewhere in the night'.

[poli]

That's interesting Rusty. I have never heard somewhere at night, but I would understand it. I googled somewhere at night and got all kinds of responses with somewhere in the night.

Maybe Google is regional too.

[JPablo]

Yup, Google is only part of planet Earth, Solar system...
Outside the Milky Way nobody uses it at all... (yet)

[ROBINDESBOIS]

I read in another forum that at night is a specific time, when it' s dark outside and in the night means during the night between dawn and dusk.

[Perikles]

Well, it's usually dark between dusk and dawn, so I can't see any difference between the definitions.

[poli]

I agree with Perikles. There are some phrases in which in the night are
the words used, but generally they are interchangable. In the night sounds a little bit more mysterious and romantic than at night.

[JPablo]

HELENA
Your virtue is my privilege. For that
It is not night when I do see your face.
Therefore I think I am not in the night.
[...]

FAIRY
Unless I’m mistaken, you’re that mischievous and naughty spirit named Robin Goodfellow. Aren’t you the one who goes around scaring the maidens in the village, stealing the cream from the top of the milk, screwing up the flour mills, and frustrating housewives by keeping their milk from turning into butter? Aren’t you the one who keeps beer from foaming up as it should, and causes people to get lost at night, while you laugh at them? Some people call you “Hobgoblin” and “sweet Puck,” and you’re nice to them. You do their work for them and give them good luck. That’s you, right?


A Midsummer Night’s Dream
William Shakespeare

[wrholt]

Originally Posted by ROBINDESBOIS

I read in another forum that at night is a specific time, when it' s dark outside and in the night means during the night between dawn and dusk.

I agree that "at night" is a time. However, I disagree with defining "in the night" as being "during the night between dawn and dusk": "in the night" is a place.

I used to work at night, or during the night, (12 midnight until 8am), but I didn't work in the night. Why? Because I worked indoors at a telephone switchboard answering calls, taking messages and filing delivered messages in a well-lit room; I wasn't outside trying to do my tasks with the inadequate light of the moon and stars.

[Perikles]

That's a good distinction

[JPablo]

What about "in the middle of the night"?

[wrholt]

Originally Posted by JPablo

What about "in the middle of the night"?

This is a time: in the absence of other context, I expect this to suggest some arbitrary time between midnight and 4am.

So far "in the night" is the one exceptional expression that has as strong sense of place for me.

[JPablo]

Thank you... interesting nuances...

[ROBINDESBOIS]

Originally Posted by wrholt

I agree that "at night" is a time. However, I disagree with defining "in the night" as being "during the night between dawn and dusk": "in the night" is a place.

I used to work at night, or during the night, (12 midnight until 8am), but I didn't work in the night. Why? Because I worked indoors at a telephone switchboard answering calls, taking messages and filing delivered messages in a well-lit room; I wasn't outside trying to do my tasks with the inadequate light of the moon and stars.

So in the night implies outside?

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by ROBINDESBOIS

So in the night implies outside?

No, not necessarily. 'Things that go bump in the night' implies you are inside, in bed, frightened about unexplained noises.

[wrholt]

Originally Posted by wrholt

I agree that "at night" is a time. However, I disagree with defining "in the night" as being "during the night between dawn and dusk": "in the night" is a place.

I used to work at night, or during the night, (12 midnight until 8am), but I didn't work in the night. Why? Because I worked indoors at a telephone switchboard answering calls, taking messages and filing delivered messages in a well-lit room; I wasn't outside trying to do my tasks with the inadequate light of the moon and stars.

Originally Posted by ROBINDESBOIS

So in the night implies outside?

Originally Posted by Perikles

No, not necessarily. 'Things that go bump in the night' implies you are inside, in bed, frightened about unexplained noises.

Agreed! It may be more accurate to say that "in the night" always has an emotional tone that suggests not knowing, being confused, or being lost in darkness, while "at night" and "during the night" are simple statements of time with no emotional affect.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by wrholt

Agreed! It may be more accurate to say that "in the night" always has an emotional tone that suggests not knowing, being confused, or being lost in darkness, while "at night" and "during the night" are simple statements of time with no emotional affect.

That's an interesting nuance. The obvious example shows the clear difference, though familiarity might also play a part:

Strangers at night
Strangers during the night
Strangers in the night