Common collocation errors

Small preposition choices after apply change meaning or make sentences sound awkward. Below: a single short rule, clear examples you can copy, quick rewrite templates for work/school/casual messages, and tiny style checks to polish emails and CVs.

If you want a fast fix, scan the wrong example that matches your sentence and copy the matching correct form.

Quick answer: the single short rule

Ask whether the noun after apply names the thing you want (a job, scholarship, admission) or the recipient of the application (a company, university, committee). Use for for the thing and to for the recipient. Use at for locations or casual speech; with/on/through indicate method or company with.

apply for + thing (apply for a job / scholarship / visa / admission)
apply to + recipient (apply to Google / Harvard / the committee)
apply at = location (I applied at the branch) - avoid in formal writing
apply with = together / using (I applied with a reference letter)
apply on / through = platform or method (I applied on the website / I applied through LinkedIn)

Core explanation: pick for vs. to in one sentence

If the noun names the thing you want, use for. If the noun names the person, place or body receiving the application, use to. When you have both, say: I applied to [recipient] for [thing].

apply for + job / scholarship / admission / visa / program
apply to + company / university / committee / agency / person
Other prepositions change the meaning: with (using/together), on/through (method), at (location)

Example: I applied for the scholarship. (scholarship = thing)
Example: I applied to the scholarship committee. (committee = recipient)
Example: I applied to Google for the product manager role. (recipient + thing)

Real usage: work, school and casual examples

Match your phrasing to the audience: formal (cover letters, applications), neutral (email), casual (chat). In formal contexts prefer apply to for recipients and apply for for things.

Work - formal: I applied to Deloitte for the senior consultant position.
Work - neutral: I applied for the UX role at Spotify and heard back yesterday.
Work - casual: I applied at a few startups last week.
School - formal: I applied to Oxford for the DPhil program.
School - neutral: I applied for admission to the master's program.
School - casual: I applied to a couple of colleges-fingers crossed!
Casual - method: I applied on Eventbrite for the workshop.
Casual - together: I applied with my friend to join the volunteer group.
Casual - portal: I applied through the company portal and uploaded my CV.

Common wrong / right pairs (fast copy-paste fixes)

Pick the matching wrong sentence and copy the corrected version.

Incorrect: I applied for a job to Microsoft. →
Correct: I applied to Microsoft for a job.
Incorrect: I applied for Microsoft. →
Correct: I applied to Microsoft for the software engineer position.
Incorrect: I work in a desk. →
Correct: I work at a desk.
Incorrect: The difference between apples to oranges. →
Correct: The difference between apples and oranges.
Incorrect: I agree on you. →
Correct: I agree with you.
Incorrect: He admitted at his mistake. →
Correct: He admitted to his mistake.
Incorrect: They summoned at me. →
Correct: They summoned me to the court.
Incorrect: I am interested in technology in smartphones. →
Correct: I am interested in technology on smartphones.
Incorrect: She accompanied with me to the party. →
Correct: She accompanied me to the party.
Incorrect: This movie is popular among teenagers. →
Correct: This movie is popular with teenagers.

Fix your own sentence: templates + 9 quick rewrites (work / school / casual)

Checklist: (1) Decide whether the noun is a thing or a recipient. (2) Use one of the templates below. (3) If both appear, use: I applied to [recipient] for [thing].

Template A (thing): I applied for [job/program/scholarship/visa].
Template B (recipient): I applied to [company/university/committee/agency].
Template C (recipient + thing): I applied to [recipient] for [position/program].
Template D (method): I applied on/through [website/portal] / I applied by email.
Template E (together/using): I applied with [colleague/reference] / I applied using [document].

Rewrite - work: Original: I applied for Microsoft. → I applied to Microsoft for the software engineer position.
Rewrite - work: Original: I applied at the startup last week. → I applied to the startup last week / I applied for a developer role at the startup.
Rewrite - school: Original: I applied for Harvard. → I applied to Harvard for the master's program.
Rewrite - school: Original: I applied at the PhD program. → I applied to the PhD program / I applied for admission to the PhD program.
Rewrite - casual: Original: I applied for tickets on Eventbrite. → I applied for tickets through Eventbrite.
Rewrite - casual: Original: I applied with my friend for the club. → My friend and I applied to join the club.
Rewrite - method: Original: I applied to the job through email. → I applied for the job by email / I applied to the company by email.
Rewrite - clarify: Original: I applied for several positions with the company. → I applied for several positions at the company.
Rewrite - precise: Original: I applied to the scholarship committee. → I applied to the scholarship committee for the scholarship.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence in context - the surrounding words often make the correct preposition obvious.

More examples (grouped by error type)

apply for vs apply to
- Wrong: I applied for Yale. →
  Right: I applied to Yale for admission.
- Wrong: I applied to the scholarship. →
  Right: I applied for the scholarship.
apply at vs apply to
- Wrong: I applied at Google. →
  Right: I applied to Google / I applied for a role at Google.
- Wrong: I applied at the office yesterday. →
  Right: I applied at the office (location) or I submitted my application to the office.
apply with / using
- Wrong: I applied to the role with my resume. →
  Right: I applied for the role with my resume.
- Wrong: I applied with my friend to the program. →
  Right: My friend and I applied to the program.
method: on / through / by
- Wrong: I applied on the company's careers email. →
  Right: I applied by email / through the careers portal.
- Wrong: I applied through LinkedIn for the scholarship. →
  Right: I applied for the scholarship through LinkedIn.

Memory trick: the two-word test

Replace the noun after apply with either "a thing" or "a person/place". If "a thing" fits, use for. If "a person/place" fits, use to.

Test: I applied for a thing → use for (I applied for the scholarship).
Test: I applied to a place/person → use to (I applied to Stanford).
Fallback rewrite: I sent an application to [recipient] for [thing].

Similar mistakes and short fixes

These small preposition errors commonly appear alongside apply mistakes. Fixing them helps your emails and CV read naturally.

Incorrect: I agreed on you. →
Correct: I agree with you.
Incorrect: He admitted at his mistake. →
Correct: He admitted to his mistake.
Incorrect: She accompanied with me. →
Correct: She accompanied me.
Incorrect: I applied on the company's career portal. →
Correct: I applied on or through the company's career portal.
Membership: Wrong: I applied for the board. →
Right: I applied to join the board / I applied for a board position.
Document: Wrong: I applied to the role by CV. →
Right: I applied for the role with my CV.

Grammar, hyphenation and spacing: tiny style checks

Keep verb + preposition unhyphenated and watch spacing. Small formatting errors look unprofessional on CVs and emails.

Do not hyphenate: write apply for, apply to, apply with (not apply-for or apply_to).
Use hyphens where appropriate for compound adjectives before nouns: a well-written application.
Spacing: one space after periods and commas; remove double spaces copied from PDFs.
Order tip: I applied to [recipient] for [thing] reads clearly in formal writing.

FAQ

Should I say "I applied for Harvard" or "I applied to Harvard"?

Say "I applied to Harvard." The university is the recipient. Use "applied for" when naming what you wanted (e.g., "I applied for admission").

Can I use "apply at" for companies?

"I applied at Google" appears in casual speech, but prefer "I applied to Google" or "I applied for a role at Google" in formal writing. "Apply at" often implies a physical location.

When is "apply with" correct?

Use "apply with" to mean together or using something: "I applied with my colleague" (together) or "I applied with a cover letter" (using a document). It doesn't replace apply to/for.

How do I fix awkward ordering like "I applied for a job to the company"?

Reorder and choose prepositions: "I applied to the company for a job" or "I applied for a job at the company." The clearest formal order is "I applied to [company] for the [job]."

What's the fastest way to check my preposition?

Replace the noun with "a thing" and "a place/person". If "a thing" fits, use for. If "a place/person" fits, use to. If in doubt, write: "I sent an application to [recipient] for [thing]."

Want a quick second opinion?

Paste a full sentence into a grammar tool or ask someone to check whether the noun after apply is a thing or a recipient. Use the templates above to fix it quickly before you send your email or submit your application.