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Preposition after verb

Abolish in or abolish by?

Abolish is normally used directly with an object. Prepositions such as in and by usually add extra details rather than forming a fixed expression.

Quick answer

How to use abolish

Use abolish something for laws, systems, or practices. “By” can introduce method or means, and “in” can introduce time or context.

The government plans to abolish the tax next year.
The policy was abolished by parliamentary vote.
Several restrictions were abolished in 2024.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
abolish + system or law

Ending something officially

Use abolish directly with the thing removed.

The country abolished slavery in the nineteenth century.
2
abolished by + method or authority

Showing how something ended

By introduces the means or agent in passive structures.

The rule was abolished by executive order.
3
abolished in + year or place

Giving time or location

In adds contextual information such as year or country.

The law was abolished in 2010.
4
abolish + object + completely

Emphasising total removal

Adverbs commonly modify abolish.

They want to abolish the fee completely.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
abolish + object
The state abolished the ban.
Standard pattern.
abolished by + authority
The system was abolished by the court.
By names the agent or method.
abolished in + time/place
The tax was abolished in Canada.
In introduces location or time.
abolish in + noun
They abolished in the policy.
Nonstandard when in is treated as part of the verb phrase.

Common mistakes

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

Adding in directly after abolish

Abolish does not normally take in as a fixed complement.

✕ They abolished in the law. ✓ They abolished the law.

Using by in active clauses incorrectly

By usually belongs in passive structures.

✕ They abolished by decree the tax. ✓ They abolished the tax by decree.

Forgetting the object

Abolish normally needs a direct object.

✕ The government abolished. ✓ The government abolished the regulation.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The city plans to ___ the outdated rule.
2. The tax was abolished ___ a national referendum.
3. Several restrictions were abolished ___ 2022.

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Frequently asked questions

Does abolish need a preposition?

Usually no. The verb directly takes an object, such as abolish a law.

Can I use abolished by?

Yes. It is common in passive sentences to show the authority or method.

Is abolish in correct?

Only when in adds time or place information, not as a fixed verb-preposition combination.

abandon, by, abandon, in "abduct by", "abduct in" or "abduct from"? abide by, in, with, to or on? "abound in" or "abound with"? "absorb by", "absorb into" or "absorb in"? "accelerate by", "accelerate to" or "accelerate in"? accentuate by, with, in or under? accept by, in, as, for or into? "accommodate in", "accommodate for" or "accommodate to"? "accomplish by" or "accomplish in"? "accord to" or "accord with"? accredit by, to, with, in or as?

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