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Prepositions after adjectives

Shocked at vs shocked by

Both shocked at and shocked by are standard. Shocked at often focuses on the situation or fact, while shocked by often points to the cause, event, or person producing the reaction.

Quick answer

Which preposition is correct with shocked?

Use shocked at for a situation, number, or idea that causes surprise. Use shocked by for the thing or person causing the shock. Both are common and sometimes overlap.

We were shocked at the final cost.
She was shocked by his rude comment.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
shocked at + situation

Reacting to a fact or circumstance

Use shocked at when referring to a result, idea, amount, or situation.

I was shocked at the price increase.
2
shocked by + cause

Naming what caused the shock

Use shocked by for an action, event, person, or behaviour that produced the reaction.

Everyone was shocked by the announcement.
3
shocked that + clause

Introducing a statement

A that-clause explains what was shocking.

She was shocked that nobody called.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
shocked at
They were shocked at the damage.
Focuses on the situation or result.
shocked by
He was shocked by her reaction.
Focuses on the cause or source of shock.
shocked with
He was shocked with the news.
Usually nonstandard in this meaning; shocked by is preferred.

Common mistakes

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

Using with instead of by

With is uncommon after shocked when naming the cause.

✕ She was shocked with the decision. ✓ She was shocked by the decision.

Forgetting the clause marker

Use that before a full clause when needed.

✕ I was shocked nobody answered. ✓ I was shocked that nobody answered.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. We were shocked ___ the amount of traffic.
2. She was shocked ___ his behaviour.
3. I was shocked ___ nobody complained.

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Frequently asked questions

Can shocked at and shocked by mean the same thing?

Yes. In many contexts both are possible, though at often highlights the situation and by highlights the cause.

Is shocked with correct?

It is uncommon and usually replaced by shocked by in standard English.

Can I use a clause after shocked?

Yes. Shocked that is very common before a clause.

sacred-to-in-by-of, for "sad for" or "sad about"? "safe for", "safe from" or "safe in"? sanguine about, in, of, on or for? "satisfactory to" or "satisfactory for"? satisfied with, of, by, in or on? "satisfying for" or "satisfying to"? scarce in, for, at, on or of? scared of, to, about, for or by? "scary for" or "scary to"? "scathing about", "scathing in" or "scathing of"? "sceptical about" or "sceptical of"?

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