“In The Hope Of” vs “With The Hope Of” – Correct Version & Meaning

Sometimes, we come across words and phrases that are very closely linked to each other. In this article, we’ll look at the differences between using “in the hope of” and “with the hope of” to see whether one is considered correct over the other.

Is It “In The Hope Of” Or “With The Hope Of”?

“In the hope of” is more commonly used and the correct version. “With the hope of” is still used, but it isn’t considered to be correct. Both phrases are used interchangeably. They mean that we have a desire for something to happen.

Is It "In The Hope Of" Or "With The Hope Of"?

The definition of “hope,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “to want something to happen or to be true, and usually have a good reason to think that it might.”

What Does “In The Hope Of” And “With The Hope Of” Mean?

Generally, when we use either of the two phrases, we’re always implying the same meaning.

Both phrases mean that we desire something to happen based on a previous scenario. That scenario is usually referenced just before using the phrase “in the hope of.”

To help you understand that, look at the following example:

  • He was doing the dishes in the hope of impressing his new date.

We can see that the first scenario is written out as “doing the dishes.” Then we use “in the hope of” to find out his intention behind doing that scenario. Basically, we learn about his intention to find out what he desires to come out of it, hence the “hope” in the phrase.

Also, this example would also be seen:

  • He was doing the dishes with the hope of impressing his new date.

However, it’s the less popular way to write it of the two. Usually, we use the preposition “in” before “the hope of.”

Is “In The Hope Of” Or “With The Hope Of” Used The Most?

To help us establish our point, we thought it would be good to share with you a graph that shows you which of the two phrases gets more usage.

If you look at this graph, you can see that “in the hope of” is more commonly used. This has always been the case in the last 200 years, and it’s recently started to pick up in popularity again.

Is "In The Hope Of" Or "With The Hope Of" Used The Most?

While “with the hope of” isn’t considered to be correct, it still gets used frequently. Many native speakers will be fine with hearing and reading both variations. It’s important to understand the difference, but it’s not all that important when it comes to more informal writing.

If you’re writing formally, stick with the proper version “in the hope of.” If you’re not, then it won’t matter which you prefer to use.

Can “In The Hope Of” And “With The Hope Of” Be Used Interchangeably?

As we’ve mentioned, the two phrases “in the hope of” and “with the hope of” can be used interchangeably. It’s up to you which one you prefer to use in a sentence.

No native speakers are going to mention whether you’re using the correct version. In fact, most native speakers don’t even understand the difference themselves.

It’s a difficult thing to explain. “Hope” is often considered to be a feeling that we have, which is why we have to be “in” that feeling for it to make sense. However, some people make the argument that we can be working “with” a feeling like “hope,” which is why there’s such a debate.

Examples Of How To Use “In The Hope Of” Or “With The Hope Of” In A Sentence

Let’s go over some examples of the two phrases in action. We’ll stick mostly with “in the hope of” because it’s the correct version, but we’ll include some variations of “with the hope of” as well.

  1. I worked hard for the last three weeks in the hope of getting that promotion my boss was talking about.
  2. I made sure to complete all the assignments early in the hope of getting a big reward.
  3. I do all my homework as soon as I get in from school with the hope of playing games straight after.
  4. I always cook for my wife in the hope of cheering her up after a hard day at work.
  5. You should always make sure you’re family are happy with the hope of them looking after you when the time comes.

As you can see, we can set up the scenario in each case as the first clause. We can then use the phrase “in the hope of” after that to introduce the idea that we desire to happen.

Is It “In The Hope Of,” “In The Hopes Of,” Or “In Hopes Of”?

There are a few variations of the sayings you might have heard before.

Is It "In The Hope Of," "In The Hopes Of," Or "In Hopes Of"?

Looking at this graph, we can see that “in the hope of” is still the most popular choice. However, people also use “in hopes of” fairly consistently too. The least popular choice is “in the hopes of” because it’s considered wrong.

Is It “With The Hope Of,” “With The Hopes Of,” Or “With Hopes Of”?

The variations of “with the hope of” are much more obvious in popularity.

 Is It "With The Hopes Of," Or "With Hopes Of"?

With this graph, we can see that “with the hope of” is the most popular choice. Both “with hopes of” and “with the hopes of” are very rarely used, and both are considered to be wrong.

In/With The Hope Of – Synonyms

Sometimes, alternatives are a great way to learn about words and phrases and what they mean.

  • With the aim of

Instead of having hope, we can have an aim that works just as well to talk about a desire or goal.

  • With the intention of

We can also replace our aim with an intention, which works exactly the same way.

Is In Hopes Of Informal?

Generally, when we use “in the hope of,” it can work in both formal and informal writing. “In hopes of” is more or less the same.

“In hopes of” is a shortened version of “in the hope of.” Both phrases are used informally when needed. Generally, you’ll have more luck using “aim” or “intention” in formal writing rather than “in hopes of.”