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during and in

We use both during and in to say that something happens inside a particular period of time.

  • We’ll be away during/in August.
  • I woke up during/in the night.

We use during to stress that we are talking about the whole of the period.

  • The shop’s closed during all of August. (not … in all of August.)

And we use during when we are talking about an event, activity or experience (not simply a period of time).

  • He had some strange experiences during his military service. (not … in his military service.)
  • I’ll try to phone you during the meeting. (not … in the meeting.)
  • I met them during my stay in China.