Learn English – Difference between by and via

prepositionsword-difference

I would like to ask the difference between the by and via.
I already checked the grammatical rules, but I don't really get it.

I'm used to say quite often, for example:

"I was talking with my friend via Skype."

and

"I went to somewhere by tram."

I don't see the point of the difference. I'm just getting used to it.

Best Answer

The word via is used for through, which can also be an abbreviated form of through the medium of.

So "talking via Skype" is used to indicate that the conversation was done through the medium of Skype.

I can use the words by and via when talking about a place. For example:

I travelled to Wales going via Birmingham.

I travelled to Wales going by Birmingham.

These now have two different meanings. Going via Birmingham still means to go through Birmingham. The route goes right into Birmingham and out again. Conversely, when going by Birmingham it just indicates the route came adjacent to the city and does not enter it.

So they can be used in similar circumstances, but have similar but different meanings.

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