At the Beginning vs In the Beginning in English Wring & Speaking

At The Beginning/End vs In The Beginning/End

We use the phrases 'at the beginning' and 'at the end' to refer to a specific starting or ending point (of something) [There must be a reference, for example, at the beginning/end of something (a book, a movie, a speech, or something else)]

On the other hand, we use the phrases 'in the beginning' and 'in the end' when there's no specific starting or ending point [There's no reference, for example, in the beginning/end, we had to face some difficulties to find clients (Here 'in the beginning/end' means 'initially/finally')]

Let's Understand This In Detail By Taking Some Examples,

1) 'At the beginning' refers to the specific starting point of something (at the first or starting point). For example, Everyone should work hard at the beginning of their career.

* 'At the beginning' is used together with a noun such as a year, book, match, lecture, etc. For example, At the beginning of the lecture, match, etc.

2) On the other hand, 'In the beginning' is used to describe the start of a period of time (Here, 'In the beginning' means 'initially'.). For example, In the beginning, the company had all but three employees and a tiny garage as their office.

From the above sentence, we can infer that 'in the beginning' refers to when the company was new and had just started its journey.

So, 'In the beginning' is used to describe a situation that started some way initially and then perhaps it's changed.

For example, In the beginning, it was very difficult to handle everything, but later on, everything had become simple to manage.

3) 'At the end' is used to refer to the last part of something (at the last or finishing point). For example, It happens at the end of this book. | At the end of the match, we all will go home and complete our homework.

4) In the end = finally, at last. For example, In the end, I called a taxi. | In the end, they admitted that they were wrong.

1) The audience gave him a big hand at the end of the speech.

2) He made some mistakes in the beginning. | In the end, we had to hire some workers.

In the beginning, it was very difficult to find clients. or At the beginning of my career as a consultant, it was very difficult to find clients.

3) They decided to leave the place in the end. or They decided to leave the place at the end of the conference.

4) The man worked very hard in the beginning. 

Don't Say: The man worked very hard at the beginning.

But, You Can Say: The man worked very hard at the beginning of his career. 

5) The actor did some negative roles at the begging of his career.

Or, You Can Say: In the beginning, the actor did some negative roles. or The actor did some negative roles in the beginning. 

6) He decided not to go in the end. or He decided not to go at the end of the meeting.

Do Not Say: He decided not to go in the end of the meeting.

7) At the end of every presentation, everybody gets bored and leaves the place to take a cup of coffee and refresh their minds.