…or is there a word or expression more common than 'rostrum'?
When you want to give a speech, and there's this in the room:
…where do you stand? At, on, behind a rostrum?
Ngram was quite unhelpful, showing only trace amounts of any of the variants.
Learn English – How does one use a rostrum
prepositionsword-in-context
Best Answer
Dictionary.com says that a rostrum is the platform and not the strange item of furniture, so you would stand 'on' the rostrum. The strange item of furniture is a lectern. You certainly don't stand 'on' it. According to Ngrams, standing 'at' or 'behind' a/the lectern are both possible. If there is a difference, standing 'at' a lectern gives you a little bit of freedom of movement - you could briefly stand to the side of it while still being 'at' it.