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Prepositions after adjectives

Puzzled by vs. puzzled as

Puzzled by is the normal English pattern. Puzzled as is not standard after the adjective.

Quick answer

Correct choice

Use puzzled by for the thing causing confusion. As is usually not used directly after puzzled.

I was puzzled by his reaction.
They seemed puzzled by the sudden change.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
puzzled by + cause

Describing confusion

By introduces the thing creating confusion.

She was puzzled by the instructions.
2
puzzled about + topic

Confused about a subject

About is also common with topics or situations.

He is puzzled about the schedule.
3
puzzled over + problem

Thinking carefully about something

Over suggests active thought or analysis.

They sat puzzled over the map.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
puzzled by
We were puzzled by the noise.
standard pattern
puzzled as
She was puzzled as to why he left.
as appears in the phrase as to why, not directly after puzzled
puzzled about
I am puzzled about the results.
common with topics
puzzled over
He was puzzled over the equation.
emphasises thought and analysis

Common mistakes

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

Using puzzled as directly

Use puzzled by or puzzled as to.

✕ I was puzzled as his answer. ✓ I was puzzled by his answer.

Forgetting the object after by

By should introduce the cause of confusion.

✕ She was puzzled by. ✓ She was puzzled by the message.

Using over for people

Over is better with problems or questions.

✓ He was puzzled by her behaviour.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She was puzzled ___ the email.
2. I am puzzled ___ the delay.
3. They were puzzled ___ why the train stopped.

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Frequently asked questions

Is puzzled as wrong?

Directly after puzzled, yes. English normally uses puzzled by or puzzled as to.

What is the difference between puzzled by and puzzled about?

By focuses on the cause; about focuses on the topic.

Can I say puzzled over?

Yes, especially when someone is thinking hard about a problem.

packed-with-to-in-on, into "paid for" or "paid up"? painful for, to, in, at or of? "palatable to" or "palatable for"? "pale in" or "pale of"? "pandemic of" or "pandemic in"? "paramount to" or "paramount in"? paranoid about, of, in, with or over? partial to, of, in, towards or for? participating in, of, on, at or for? "particular about" or "particular to"? part-time at, in, for, as or with?

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