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We live ON Long Island. To live in LI would infer that we are subterranian earth dwellers.
We live in a community -- You live in Rocky Point, I live in Stony Brook, etc., it is a defined place.
We live on a road (street, avenue.) To say in the road would mean either the middle of the street or imbedded in the asphalt.
We live in a house (home, apartment.) To say on a house would be akin to Snoopy sitting atop his doghouse.
There is often no logic to a particular rule in traditional English grammar and usage. We live IN a region, such as New York State; therefore, if Long Island is a region, we can live IN Long Island.
By the way, I usually say ON Long Island...
Don't make fun of my geakiness, either - it's all I have!
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I honestly can't stand when visiters say "I'll be IN Long Island for the weekend" or whatever, lol. It just doesn't sound right since it's like saying you'll be inside, underground the island lol
Long Islander's always say ON Long Island. Other people say IN. That's how I can tell if they are from around here or not.
Exactly. Same for Staten Island. When I corrected the Wikipedia biography of Christina Aguilera, which stated she was born "in Staten Island" to "on Staten Island", the editor wouldn't accept it.
Wikipedia gave me a bunch of non-sensical reasons why "in" was correct and removed my revision. I told the editor he could do what he wants, but that wouldn't change the fact that no one in NYC would say Christina was born "in Staten Island", but would say "on Staten Island". I asserted if someone stated the former, it was a tip off the person didn't live in, or around New York City. Still didn't change his mind, however, and Wikipedia removed my correction.
Needless to say, The Grammarphobia Blog agrees that "ON" is the correct usage.
See the article, "We’ll take Long Island and Staten Island, too"
ON Long Island. My grandfather used to say that we were going out "to Long Island" (from Queens...isn't that "on" Long Island??) Anyway. I always thought I was "on" the island, not "in" it.
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