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Prepositions after verbs

Compile with different prepositions

Compile is commonly used with from for sources and for a purpose. Other prepositions may appear in separate phrases rather than fixed combinations.

Quick answer

How compile is usually used

Use compile from to mention sources and compile for to mention purpose or audience. By often introduces the person doing the action, not a fixed verb-preposition pattern. In and on usually belong to separate time, place, or topic phrases.

The report was compiled from survey data.
She compiled a guide for new employees.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
compile from + source

Mentioning the material used

Use from to show the information or documents used to create something.

The list was compiled from public records.
Researchers compiled the database from hospital reports.
2
compile for + purpose/person

Explaining who something is intended for

Use for to mention the audience or purpose.

He compiled the notes for the training session.
The agency compiled statistics for investors.
3
compiled by + person

Naming the compiler

By is commonly used in passive structures to identify who compiled something.

The dictionary was compiled by a team of editors.
This report was compiled by local researchers.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
compile from
The archive was compiled from newspaper articles.
show the sources used
compile for
She compiled a handbook for volunteers.
show purpose or audience
compiled by
The database was compiled by experts.
identify the creator in a passive sentence
compile in
They compiled the data in two weeks.
in here introduces a time phrase, not a fixed combination
compile on
He compiled a book on marine life.
on introduces the topic of the compiled work

Common mistakes

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

Using by instead of from for sources

Use from for the materials or information used.

✕ The report was compiled by several interviews. ✓ The report was compiled from several interviews.

Treating compile in as a fixed pattern

In usually introduces time or place information.

✕ They compiled in market data. ✓ They compiled market data from several sources.

Using on instead of from for source material

On usually introduces a topic, not source material.

✕ The list was compiled on customer surveys. ✓ The list was compiled from customer surveys.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The statistics were compiled ___ government records.
2. She compiled the guide ___ new staff members.
3. The encyclopedia was compiled ___ a group of historians.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I say compiled from?

Yes. This is the standard way to mention source material.

Is compile by correct?

Compiled by is common in passive sentences, such as a report compiled by experts.

What does compile on mean?

On usually introduces the topic of a book, report, or collection rather than forming a fixed verb-preposition pattern.

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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