word choice - "There are two parts on this spreadsheet" vs. "there are two parts in this spreadsheet"




  • There are two parts on this spreadsheet

  • There are two parts in this spreadsheet



Which is grammatical? And what is the preferred usage? By parts I mean some data or information（pictures, production's name, etc.).



Answer



The two statements do not imply the same.



There are two parts on this spreadsheet.



This refers to parts of what is on the spreadsheet, say a certain table of figures.



There are two parts in this spreadsheet.



This refers to parts of the spreadsheet itself, perhaps sets of columns, sets of rows, or such.


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