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As far as I remember from my learning, before the name of a day the preposition "on" should be there. For example:

He'll be there on Sunday. He was there on Sunday.

Then my question if this rule is also valid when the word "every" exists?

For example:

"I am on every Wednesday at the college."

Or should I omit the preposition "on" from it?

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  • Not in that order. You would say "I am at the college (on) every Wednesday." or "(On) every Wednesday I am at the college." Using on in these cases is optional.
    – user3169
    Commented May 27, 2018 at 4:28
  • Did you perhaps read something like "It's on every Wednesday evening at 9 p.m."? The "on" refers to a TV programme being broadcast e.g. TBBT is on CBS
    – Mari-Lou A
    Commented May 27, 2018 at 10:07

1 Answer 1

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When, if ever, have you seen that particular construction? “I am on every Wednesday…”?

Adverb phrases that express time go either at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.

  • Yesterday I went to college
  • I went to college yesterday.

The following is very awkward

  • I yesterday went to college (NO)

Likewise, the time expression "every Wednesday", is no different

  • Every Wednesday I am at college
  • I go to college every Wednesday.

The preposition on is used before days of the week, before specific parts of the day and for dates.

  • On Wednesdays, I go to college
  • The graduation ceremony is on May 14th, and the commencement speech by Tom Smith will begin on Friday morning at 10.30.

https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/prepositions-at-in-on-time.htm

There is, however, one usage of “on every + [day]” that sounds idiomatic. When we mention the days and times of TV or radio shows. For example,

  • It's on every Monday night 7-9pm on BBC Radio Stoke and on the BBC iPlayer.

  • When To Listen: NOW! It’s on every Monday through Friday at 11AM (and again at 9:30PM) during our Best Selling Fiction program and read by first-time book reader, Geoff Worden.

  • Spotlight is the show on National Prison Radio which shines a light on those charities and organisations in prison which are there to help you. It’s on every Monday at 11am, repeated at 5pm.

  • I think afternoon programmes are as good as evening ones and, like I'm out tonight and I know Dallas is on because it's on every Wednesday, so I shall ask him ...

Here, the preposition "on" refers to being broadcast by (a radio or television channel) e.g. ‘a new twelve-part TV series on Channel 4’, ‘The show will be broadcast on CBS on December 26th.’

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  • Please, note if that it is optional to add the preposition "on" or you don't agree with it. Commented May 27, 2018 at 11:50
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    @subtle_sibling "I am on every Wednesday at the college" sounds more like you're doing a TV, theatre or radio show that is broadcast or shown in college. In your cited examples, it is inappropriate, I think I made that quite clear.
    – Mari-Lou A
    Commented May 27, 2018 at 11:52

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