Both astounded by and astounded at are standard. By often highlights the cause of astonishment, while at commonly introduces the surprising event or fact.
Use astounded at for reactions to facts, actions, or events. Use astounded by when focusing on the person or thing causing the reaction.
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
Astounded at commonly introduces events, behaviour, or facts that cause surprise.
Use astounded by to emphasise the thing or person creating astonishment.
At is often followed by clauses beginning with how, what, or that.
By can also introduce clauses when the cause is emphasised.
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Both by and at are correct, but they emphasise slightly different meanings.
✕ We were astounded at her kindness. ✓ We were astounded by her kindness.Astounded is not normally followed by with or as.
✕ She was astounded with the news. ✓ She was astounded at the news.The preposition should normally be followed by a noun or clause.
✕ I was astounded at. ✓ I was astounded at the response.Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.
Yes. Both are standard and widely used.
By focuses more on the source or cause, while at focuses on the surprising fact or event.
Not usually. Standard English prefers astounded by or astounded at.
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