inperson

In person, commonly written as in-person, refers to activities and interactions that take place with participants physically present in the same location, rather than remotely via digital technologies. The term is widely used in education, business, events, and service settings to distinguish face-to-face encounters from virtual or asynchronous ones. While in-person is the standard form, the solid compound inperson is seen, but it is less conventional and more likely to appear in branding or informal contexts.

In educational settings, in-person classes and campuses emphasize direct teacher-student interaction, immediate feedback, and hands-on activities. In business, in-person meetings, conferences, and visits are valued for nuanced communication, relationship-building, and collaborative problem solving that can be harder to replicate online. In-person services, such as healthcare, retail, and customer support, involve physical presence of the provider or staff with the client.

Advantages of in-person engagement include enhanced nonverbal communication, social bonding, and quicker decision making in group settings. Limitations include the need for travel, scheduling constraints, higher costs, and reduced accessibility for people with mobility or resource limitations. In some contexts, in-person encounters also pose health and safety considerations, which organizations address through protocols and alternatives when needed.

Trends in recent years have seen hybrid models that combine in-person and remote participation. Some activities rely on in-person participation for critical components such as experiments, negotiations, or networking, while other elements are delivered online for efficiency. The shift toward hybrid approaches reflects efforts to balance engagement, inclusivity, and flexibility.

See also: online meeting, remote work, hybrid event, telepresence.