“In Preparation For” Or “In Preparation Of”? Difference Explained

We have to make sure we know the differences with prepositions that we use in English. Though the words are small, like “for” and “of,” they can profoundly impact the overall meaning. This article will compare “in preparation for” and “in preparation of.”

What Is The Difference Between “In Preparation For” And “In Preparation Of”?

“In preparation for” is correct when we want to talk about something we are doing before another event happens (i.e., preparing ourselves for the upcoming thing). “In preparation of” is less common but works in the same way. It’s best to use “for” in most cases.

“In preparation for” is usually what you’d say when you’re preparing for an upcoming event. We mostly say “with the preparation of” when we’re involved in the preparation process, and “in” isn’t the best choice of preposition before “preparation of.”

Is “In Preparation For” Or “In Preparation Of” Used The Most?

There aren’t any clear differences between these two prepositions when it comes to their meaning. However, there are very clear and apparent differences when it comes to their popularity. Native speakers have a clear favorite when you look at the statistics.

According to Google Ngram Viewer, “in preparation for” is vastly more popular than “in preparation of.” This makes it clear that native speakers prefer “preparation for” when it comes to talking about things they’re getting ready for.

However, that doesn’t mean “preparation of” is wrong; it just means we’re using it in the wrong context.

We can see that from the following results of Google Ngram Viewer. “Preparation of” as a standalone phrase is hugely popular compared to “in preparation of.” As long as we don’t use “in” before the phrase, we can find plenty of uses for it.

Examples Of How To Use “In Preparation For” In A Sentence

“In preparation for” is clearly the more popular choice of the two phrases. To help you understand what makes it so popular, we’ve put together some examples for you. You’ll notice that these sentences are easy to read.

1. In preparation for the upcoming festivities, I made sure to pack extra food.
2. I made this in preparation for his birthday party. Do you think he will approve?
3. He had to work overtime in preparation for the supervisor coming down to visit.
4. They kept us back in preparation for the big event tomorrow.
5. We had to work hard in preparation for my mother coming to town, and we think it made off.
6. She left it in the oven in preparation for her family, who should be arriving any minute.
7. In preparation for things to come, I’ve made a list of how we’re going to split up the tasks in our day.
8. In preparation for the future, I’ve made sure that my children are happy and set up with trust funds.
9. In preparation for everything to come, there won’t be any more mandatory visits to the people I despise in my life.
10. I have changed addresses in preparation for my upcoming job. I really hope it was worth it.

“In preparation for” works well when you want to talk about something that you’re getting ready for. Usually, we have plans coming up that we need to be prepared for, which is why we use this saying.

Examples Of How To Use “In Preparation Of” In A Sentence

“In preparation of” isn’t incorrect, which is why we’re still going to use examples to help you see it in action. It’s synonymous with “in preparation for,” it’s just not the most common preposition to use in this case.

1. In preparation of upcoming events, I’ve made a cake to celebrate.
2. In preparation of these things, we’ve all gathered together to watch it.
3. We needed to work hard in preparation of his visit.
4. I have made sure to quit my habit in preparation of my new partner living with me.
5. In preparation of the new arrangements, I’ve put together a little slideshow to show you my appreciation.

“In preparation of” isn’t the best way to use the phrase. “Preparation of” is much more common to use, and we do it when someone is preparing for a particular thing.

1. I was involved with the preparation of the party for my son.
2. The preparation of this event couldn’t have been any more difficult!
3. With the preparation of this parade out of the way, it’s time to focus on more pressing issues.
4. Preparation of a plan is what’s most important if you want it to succeed.
5. With the preparation of the wedding completed, what do you want to discuss next?

Is It “In Preparation Of A Meeting” Or “In Preparation For A Meeting”?

We’ll go over some specific examples to help you understand the nuances of the phrases. By this point, it should be fairly clear which of the two phrases we’ll be more likely to use in most written cases.

“In preparation for a meeting” is correct because the “meeting” is an upcoming event and we have to get ready for it. “Of a meeting” is not the right choice here because it’s rare that “of” is the correct preposition in this case.

• Correct: In preparation for a meeting, I’ve made a few notes.
• Incorrect: In preparation of a meeting, I’ve emailed my boss to find out a good time.
• Correct: We’re going to do a lot of work here in preparation for the meeting.
• Incorrect: Gather round in preparation of the meeting.

“In Preparation For” And “In Preparation Of” – Synonyms

Finally, let’s check out some suitable synonyms and alternatives to the two phrases. If you’re unsure about the preposition usage, maybe one of these alternatives will be better suited to your troubles.

• In anticipation of
• Getting ready for
• Preparing for
• To prepare for
• Approaching
• Nearing
• Heading toward
• Before we get to

These synonyms are all great choices to replace “in preparation for.” We can use them to show that we’re getting ready for a particular event that is bound to come up in our future.