Example:
He was standing on the shoreline.
He was standing at the shoreline.
He was standing by the shoreline.
What's the difference between the three?
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He was standing on the shoreline.
He was standing at the shoreline.
He was standing by the shoreline.
What's the difference between the three?
If we use this definition of shoreline, then:
He was standing on the shoreline.
This is OK because we are standing on top of a surface, though on could have other meanings such as along.
He was standing at the shoreline.
Means the same thing but it refers to location (where the water meets the land).
He was standing by the shoreline.
Somewhere nearby or close to the shoreline.