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Prepositions after verbs

Construe as or construe in?

Construe as is the standard expression for interpreting something in a particular way. Construe in is uncommon and usually not idiomatic as a fixed combination.

Quick answer

Which preposition follows construe?

Use construe as when explaining how something is interpreted or understood. Construe in is generally not used as a standard pattern, although in may appear separately in longer phrases.

Her comments were construed as criticism.
The gesture was construed as a threat.
The statement should not be construed as legal advice.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
construe as + meaning

Showing interpretation

Use as to explain how words, actions, or events are interpreted.

His silence was construed as agreement.
The email was construed as an apology.
2
construe something narrowly/broadly

Describing style of interpretation

Construe can also be followed by adverbs describing the interpretation.

Courts often construe the rule narrowly.
The clause was construed broadly.
3
interpret in + context

Using in as a separate context phrase

In may appear with a different verb or as an adverbial phrase about context rather than after construe itself.

The remark should be interpreted in context.
Read the sentence in relation to the full report.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
construe as
The warning was construed as a joke.
Standard pattern meaning interpret in a certain way.
construe in
This combination is generally not idiomatic.
English normally uses construe as or another structure.
interpret as
They interpreted the delay as disrespect.
A close synonym of construe as.
read into
She read too much into the comment.
Means find an implied meaning.

Common mistakes

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

Using in instead of as

Construe normally takes as before the interpretation.

✕ The remark was construed in an insult. ✓ The remark was construed as an insult.

Omitting as

As is needed before the interpreted meaning.

✕ His actions were construed hostile. ✓ His actions were construed as hostile.

Using construe for physical construction

Construe means interpret, not build.

✕ They construed a new office. ✓ They constructed a new office.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Her response was construed ___ sarcasm.
2. The judge construed the rule ___.
3. The message should be interpreted ___ context.

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Frequently asked questions

Is construe as formal English?

Yes. It is common in legal, academic, and formal writing.

Can construe in ever be correct?

Not as a standard fixed combination. In may appear separately in contextual phrases.

What is a simpler synonym for construe?

Interpret is the most common everyday alternative.

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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