Selecting Prepositions: Part 2
Prepositions: Using the Appropriate Preposition
Each preposition serves a specific purpose to initiate the phrase that follows. Understanding these uses will prepare the writer to create maximum clarity for the reader.
IN Use in with spaces
In a garden
In a room
Use in with bodies of water
In the sea
In a river
Use in with lines
In a row
In a queue
Use in with static (non-movement) verbs & cities, countries, states, etc
Stay in the US
Work in New York
Use in for months, years, and periods of time
In January
In 1998
Use in for a period of time in the future
In a few weeks
In a few hours
AT Use at with places
At the bus-stop
At the door
Use at with places on the page
At the top
At the bottom
Use at with groups of people
At the back of the class
At the front of class
Use at with static (non-movement) verbs and places
At the cinema
At work
Use at with precise time
At 10:30
At two pm
ON Use on with surfaces
On the table
On the desk
Use on with small islands
On Maui
On Davis Island
Use on with directions
On the left
One the right
Use on with days of the week
On Monday
On Tuesday
Use on with specific calendar days
On Halloween
On October 29th
TO Use to with verbs of movement such as go, come, drive, etc.
Go to work
Drive to Las Vegas
FOR Use for with a period of time to express the duration
For three weeks
For many months
WHILE Use while plus a verb form
While I was watching TV
While I lived in New York
DURING Use during with a noun to express when something happens
During class
During my vacation
Important Notes: We say “in the corner of a room,” but “at the corner of a street.”
We say “in the front” and “at the back” of buildings.
We say “on the front” and “on the back” of a piece of paper.
Prepositional Phrase Reference
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AT |
BY |
FOR |
FROM |
UNDER |
WITHOUT |
|
At first |
By accident |
For now |
From now on |
Under age |
Without fail |
|
At least |
By far |
For instance |
From then on |
Under control |
Without notice |
|
At most |
By all means |
For example |
From bad to worse |
Under the impression |
Without exception |
|
At times |
By heart |
For sale |
From my point of view |
Under guarantee |
Without someone’s consent |
|
At any rate |
By chance |
For a while |
From what I understand |
Under the influence of |
Without success |
|
At last |
By and by |
For the moment |
From personal experience |
Under obligation |
Without warning. |
|
At the latest |
By the way |
For ages |
|
Under suspicion |
|
|
At once |
By the time |
For a change |
|
Under his thumb |
|
|
At short notice |
By no means |
For better or worse |
|
Under discussion |
|
|
At an advantage |
By name |
|
|
Under consideration |
|
|
At a disadvantage |
By sight |
|
|
|
|
|
At risk |
By now |
|
|
|
|
|
At a profit |
By then |
|
|
|
|
|
At a loss |
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|
|
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For information on making the right choice when choosing a preposition, see Selecting Prepositions, Part 1 located in the Revising the Draft for Style section of the NCU Writing Center. Additionally, writers are also encouraged to visit the Writing Centers at Colorado, Purdue, and Chapel Hill.