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Prepositions after verbs

Compensate: which preposition to use

Compensate is most commonly followed by for when talking about a loss or problem. Other prepositions are used in specific structures.

Quick answer

Common uses of compensate

Use compensate for something to mean balance or make up for a loss, problem, or weakness. Use compensate by + -ing to describe the method used. Compensate with usually refers to the thing given in return. In and as are not standard prepositions directly after compensate in this meaning.

The bonus helps compensate for low wages.
They tried to compensate by reducing prices.
The company compensated customers with free tickets.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
compensate for + loss/problem

Talking about something that is balanced or replaced

Use for after compensate when mentioning the thing being made up for.

Extra staff can compensate for delays.
The payment will compensate for the damage.
2
compensate by + -ing

Explaining the method used

Use by followed by an -ing form to show how someone compensates.

She compensated by working longer hours.
The team compensated by improving customer support.
3
compensate with + thing

Mentioning what is given in return

Use with to name money, benefits, or other things provided as compensation.

They compensated us with a refund.
The hotel compensated guests with free meals.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
compensate for
The insurance will compensate for the loss.
make up for something negative
compensate by
He compensated by practising every day.
show the method used to improve a situation
compensate with
The airline compensated passengers with vouchers.
state what is given as compensation
compensate in
They compensated in other ways.
in here is an adverbial phrase, not a fixed verb-preposition pattern
compensate as
She worked as a consultant.
as does not normally follow compensate directly

Common mistakes

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

Using in as a fixed preposition after compensate

In can introduce a separate phrase, but compensate in is not a standard fixed combination.

✕ The company compensated in the losses. ✓ The company compensated for the losses.

Using as after compensate

As is generally not used directly after compensate in this meaning.

✕ They compensated as the damage. ✓ They compensated for the damage.

Forgetting the -ing form after by

Use by with an -ing verb form.

✕ She compensated by work harder. ✓ She compensated by working harder.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The payment will compensate ___ the repair costs.
2. They compensated ___ offering free delivery.
3. The store compensated customers ___ gift cards.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I say compensate for something?

Yes. This is the most common and standard structure.

Is compensate by correct?

Yes. Use it to explain how someone makes up for a problem, usually with an -ing form.

Is compensate in correct?

Not usually as a fixed verb-preposition combination. In may appear in a separate adverbial phrase instead.

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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