Is there any difference in meaning between the phrases in the following sentences?
I will work next month.
I will work in the next month.
I will work for the next month.
If I am right, for the next month means throughout the next month. But what about in the next month?
Is it even a valid phrase?
Best Answer
means that the day or days when you will work will occur some time within the next month. Perhaps you will work on November 4, or from November 8 to November 12, or just on November 3, 8, 14, and 29. Or perhaps you will start your next job on November 10 and continue working for the rest of November and beyond.
means that you will work starting from approximately now or tomorrow, and the duration will be one month.
With no preposition:
the meaning could be either "one or more times within November" or "the full duration of November". The context would need to indicate which meaning was intended, or it would be ambiguous.
Here are some similar contrasting examples with in and for: