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On the wall, at the table but how to say ON or AT the surface of the shell?

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  • On. Incidentally, at the table does not mean the same thing as on the table so it's not really an option.
    – Kristina Lopez
    Commented Sep 22, 2014 at 13:52
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    You can be "on the surface of the frozen lake" or "at the surface of the ocean". I'd say if you're standing, your feet planted firmly on the shell, you're on the surface; if you can approach the shell from below as well as above, you're at the surface.
    – Dan Bron
    Commented Sep 22, 2014 at 14:04
  • What is the surface of a shell?
    – Preston
    Commented Sep 22, 2014 at 14:45
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    The shell? Which one? Shell has a number of meanings.
    – John Lawler
    Commented Sep 22, 2014 at 14:46
  • See LINKED sidebar also . . . .
    – James Waldby - jwpat7
    Commented Sep 22, 2014 at 14:54

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Certainly both are correct, but on the surface implies floating on the water like a boat, and at the surface implies something has risen to the surface like a submarine .

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