In the Newspaper or On the Newspaper: What Is the Difference?
If you have ever written 'I saw a great recipe on the newspaper' or 'There was a photo of my favourite actor on the newspaper', you are not alone. This is one of the most common small mistakes that English learners make – and it is easy to see why. Both in and on seem to make sense when we talk about a newspaper.
In this post, I will explain the simple rule that will help you choose the right preposition every time. Let us start with the most important point.
In the Newspaper – Information Inside
When we talk about the content of a newspaper – the articles, photographs, advertisements, letters, or anything that is printed as part of the publication – we use in:
✅ I read an interesting article in the newspaper yesterday.
✅ There was a photo of the Queen in the newspaper.
✅ Did you see your name in the newspaper?
✅ They placed a lovely wedding announcement in the local newspaper.
✅ She found a job advertisement in the newspaper and applied immediately.
Even if the photo appears on the front page, it is still in the newspaper because it is part of the publication. The same rule applies to magazines, books, and other printed material: content is in them.
On the Newspaper – Physically On Top
We use on when we are talking about something that is physically placed on top of the newspaper. The newspaper is an object, and another object is resting on its surface:
✅ Please do not put your coffee cup on the newspaper – you might stain it.
✅ There was a wet footprint on the newspaper left by the dog.
✅ I found a few crumbs on the newspaper after breakfast.
✅ He placed the fish and chips on the newspaper to absorb the grease.
✅ She sat on the newspaper to avoid getting her trousers dirty on the park bench.
There is one extra use that sometimes confuses learners. When we refer to a specific page, we often use on because we are talking about the surface of that page. For example:
✅ The story was on the front page of the newspaper.
✅ I saw your letter on page five of The Guardian.
Even in these cases, if you step back and say 'I saw your letter in the newspaper', that is still correct. The difference is whether you are naming a specific page (on) or referring to the publication as a whole (in).
I hope you have found this content helpful in your English learning journey. If so, please consider supporting this blog by buying me a coffee. Your contributions greatly help in maintaining the blog and are always appreciated.
Examples from the Media
Many, although not all, of the articles that appear in the newspaper are also published online. Use our website search engine, near the top of this page, to find the article you're searching for. —Toronto Star (2024)
Many, however, admitted that when they first saw the pictures in the newspaper they questioned their authenticity. But they defended their editor for doing his job, in making an editorial decision to use them. —The Guardian (2004)
In 1995, a young Mike Burgess saw a "weird, geeky-sounding" advertisement in the newspaper. It was short on details about the identity of the recruiter, but Burgess thought he would give it a go "being a curious guy". —The Sydney Morning Herald (2020)
Police noticed the sleek black-and-gold pen on the newspaper was actually a tiny video camera, which average [sic] about $240 at local spy shops. —New York Daily News (2012)
Practice
Choose the correct preposition for each sentence. Write in or on.
1. I saw a great film review ____ the newspaper.
2. There is a coffee stain ____ the newspaper.
3. She found her friend's engagement announcement ____ the newspaper.
4. Look! There's a spider crawling ____ the newspaper.
5. The headline was ____ the front page of every newspaper.
6. They printed my letter ____ the newspaper.
7. He placed his glasses ____ the newspaper.
8. I enjoy doing the crossword ____ the newspaper every morning.
Answer Key
1. in 2. on 3. in 4. on 5. on 6. in 7. on 8. in
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