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Difference between In one’s way and On one’s way

in one’s way—

1. situated along one’s route:

  • I’ll take that book back for you; the library is in my way as I go to the town.

2. placed so as to be an obstruction or cause inconvenience:

  • If there is a physical obstacle in our way, we move it, jump over it or break it down. Mental obstacles are different….

3. within the limitations of one’s character:

  • “Prendy’s not so bad in his way,” said Grimes, “but he can’t keep order.”

on one’s way—

1. on a journey; going to a place:

  • On our way to Sidon we repeatedly encountered unknown ruins.

2. = in one’s way 1:

  • We stopped to see Harris quite often as his house was on our way to and from downtown Winfield.

3. in good prospect of smth.:

  • Don’t hundreds of thousands of immigrants on their way to becoming U.S. citizens work hard and serve in the military.