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Preposition after adjective

Abreast of or abreast with?

Abreast of is the standard expression. Abreast with is uncommon and usually refers to physical position beside something.

Quick answer

Which preposition is correct after abreast?

Use abreast of to mean informed about something or level with something. Abreast with is rare and usually describes moving side by side with another person or object.

She keeps abreast of industry news.
The runner stayed abreast of the leader.
The cyclist rode abreast with his teammate.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
abreast of + news/topic

Talking about being informed

Use abreast of to describe staying updated about information or developments.

We try to stay abreast of market changes.
She keeps abreast of current research.
2
abreast of + person/object

Describing equal position

Abreast of can also mean level with someone or something in movement or progress.

The boat came abreast of the harbour.
3
abreast with + person

Describing movement side by side

Abreast with is uncommon but may appear in descriptions of physical position beside another person or object.

He walked abreast with his brother.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
abreast of
She stays abreast of new regulations.
Standard form meaning informed about something.
abreast of
The car drew abreast of the truck.
Standard form meaning level with something.
abreast with
The horses ran abreast with each other.
Rare expression about physical side-by-side position.
up to date with
He is up to date with the latest software.
Common alternative for being informed.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using abreast with for information

Use abreast of when talking about news, trends, or knowledge.

✕ She stays abreast with technology. ✓ She stays abreast of technology.

Forgetting the preposition

Abreast is normally followed by of in standard English.

✕ We keep abreast industry changes. ✓ We keep abreast of industry changes.

Using abreast of with people incorrectly

Abreast of can describe equal position, but not general companionship.

✕ He travelled abreast of his friend all day. ✓ He travelled alongside his friend all day.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She likes to stay ___ new teaching methods.
2. The ship moved ___ the coastline.
3. The two runners stayed ___ each other.

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Frequently asked questions

Is abreast with incorrect?

It is uncommon but can appear in descriptions of physical position beside someone or something.

What does abreast of mean?

It means informed about something or level with something in position or progress.

Can abreast of refer to movement?

Yes. It can describe one object becoming level with another.

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