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Preposition after adjective

"swelling of" or "swelling in"?

Both swelling of and swelling in are correct, but they describe different relationships.

Quick answer

When do you use swelling of or swelling in?

Use swelling of to name the body part or thing that has become swollen. Use swelling in to indicate the location where swelling appears.

The doctor noticed swelling of the ankle.
She reported swelling in her hands after the hike.
There was swelling of the gums.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
swelling of + body part

Naming what is swollen

Of identifies the affected body part or area.

The scan showed swelling of the knee.
He had swelling of the face after surgery.
2
swelling in + location

Showing where swelling occurs

In introduces the location where swelling is present.

She experienced swelling in her legs.
Doctors found swelling in the lower abdomen.
3
swelling around + area

Describing surrounding tissue

Around is useful when the swelling surrounds a specific area.

There was swelling around the wound.
The athlete developed swelling around the joint.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
swelling of
The patient has swelling of the wrist.
Names the affected body part directly.
swelling in
There is swelling in the left foot.
Focuses on the location where swelling appears.
swelling around
The dentist observed swelling around the tooth.
Describes tissue surrounding an area.

Common mistakes

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

Using of and in interchangeably

Of names the swollen part; in highlights the location.

✕ Swelling in the ankle was severe. ✓ Swelling of the ankle was severe.

Missing the body part

Medical descriptions are clearer with a specific area.

✓ The patient reported swelling in the fingers.

Overusing in after swelling

Of is often more direct in formal medical descriptions.

✓ The report mentioned swelling of the lymph nodes.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The athlete had swelling ___ the knee.
2. Doctors noticed swelling ___ both hands.
3. There was swelling ___ the injection site.

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Frequently asked questions

Is swelling of more formal than swelling in?

Yes. Swelling of is especially common in medical and clinical writing.

Can I use swelling in everyday English?

Yes. It is natural in everyday descriptions of symptoms.

Do of and in mean exactly the same thing?

No. Of identifies the swollen body part, while in focuses on location.

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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