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Prepositions after verbs

Choose from or choose by?

Choose from is the standard pattern when selecting among options. By usually introduces the method or criterion used for choosing.

Quick answer

Choose from vs. choose by

Use choose from when selecting among available options. Choose by is not a common fixed combination, but by can introduce criteria such as choose by size or choose by colour.

You can choose from several designs.
Customers often choose by price.
Students must choose from three topics.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
choose from + options

Select among alternatives

Choose from introduces the group of available choices.

Please choose from the menu.
Applicants may choose from four schedules.
2
choose by + criterion

Describe the basis for choosing

By introduces a method, measurement, or criterion. It is not the main preposition selected by choose.

Some people choose apartments by location.
3
choose between + two options

Compare two alternatives

Choose between is common when there are two main possibilities.

She had to choose between London and Paris.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
choose from
We chose from a list of candidates.
select from available options
choose by
Many shoppers choose by brand.
by introduces the criterion or method
choose between
He chose between two job offers.
decide between alternatives

Common mistakes

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

Using choose by for available options

Use choose from when talking about a set of choices.

✕ Choose by these colours. ✓ Choose from these colours.

Omitting from after choose

From is often needed before the list of options.

✕ You can choose the following packages. ✓ You can choose from the following packages.

Using between for many choices

Between is most natural with two alternatives.

✕ She chose between ten designs. ✓ She chose from ten designs.

Treating by as a fixed pattern

By adds information about criteria rather than forming a fixed verb-preposition combination.

✓ They chose the winner by vote.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Guests may ___ three dessert options.
2. Many buyers ___ colour and comfort.
3. She could not ___ the two offers.

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Frequently asked questions

Is choose by incorrect?

Not always. By can describe the criterion used for choosing, such as choose by size.

When should I use choose from?

Use it when selecting from a group of available options.

Can I say choose between more than two things?

It is possible, but choose from is usually more natural for larger groups.

calculate, by, calculate, in, calculate, from "call for" or "call on"? "campaign for" or "campaign against"? cancel by, due, at, in or for? capitulate to, in, like, by or after? captivate by, for, with, from or in? "capture by" or "capture in"? "care about" or "care for"? carry with, by, in, to or into? carve into, out, in, on or with? cast in, into, for, by or on? "catch in", "catch by" or "catch on"?

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