sitting 'on' or 'in'

[dannyw]

In the UK I would say that we generally sit 'in' an armchair and 'on' a sofa, whether it has arms or not. Any ideas why we don't sit 'in' a sofa?

Thanks

[SusanB]

That seems to give the impression that you've somehow disappeared into the sofa, in between the cushions! I've no idea why, though. And I do sit on a bus most days.

[Dave]

Most likely the same in the US: in an armchair, but on a sofa (or couch, etc.) But

on a stool
on a bench
on a kitchen chair
on an office chair (or in an office chair?)
in the pew(s)

[TfS]

It does seem that the 'on' form is for articles designed for single occupancy whereas the 'in' form is where the object permits multiple occupancy.

TfS

[Pete]

That doesn't sit well ( ;D) with 'on' a sofa vs 'in' an armchair.

[Tone]

Seems to me that it hinges on whether there is "enclosure" (arms of a chair or the row-in-front of pews) as part of the seating device. (Enclosure = "in".)
Hence office chair may well be either "on" or "in" depending on the increasing sumptuousness that it offers.

Tone

[Vadim]

You said it better than I could, Tone.

Although a sofa has arms, they are generally not enclosed because you can move to either side and then get out. However, this is the same as a pew apart from the pew is blocked at the front, normally.

English really is strange isn't it?

On a bus, in the car;
On a train, in a helicopter;
On a bike, in a chair.
On the sofa, in the aisle.

Is it just through usage that we define the rules?

[Tone]

>You said it better than I could, Tone.<

Maybe that's 'cos I's bin sayin' fings for longer!
(And sitting down a lot.)

>English really is strange isn't it? <

Nowhere near as strange as every foreign language that I've failed to understand!

Tone