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Prepositions after verbs

Convey to or convey by?

Convey to usually introduces the receiver of information or feelings. Convey by is used for means of transport or method.

Quick answer

Which preposition goes with convey?

Use convey to when something is communicated to a person or group. Use convey by when talking about transport or method. The prepositions have different functions.

The report was conveyed to the board yesterday.
The goods were conveyed by rail across the country.
She conveyed her concerns to her manager calmly.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
convey to + person

Giving information, feelings, or meaning to someone

Use to for the receiver of a message, idea, emotion, or impression.

The speaker conveyed confidence to the audience.
Please convey my thanks to your team.
2
convey by + transport or method

Showing how something is transported or communicated

Use by for the means used to move or transmit something.

The supplies were conveyed by truck.
The signal was conveyed by satellite.
3
convey + object

Using convey without a following preposition

Convey can directly take an object such as an idea, message, or feeling.

convey a message clearly
convey sympathy sincerely

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
convey to
She conveyed the instructions to the interns.
communicate something to a receiver
convey by
The furniture was conveyed by boat.
show the method or transport used
convey through
The film conveys emotion through music.
show the medium or channel used

Common mistakes

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

Using by for the receiver

By usually introduces a method, not the person receiving the message.

✕ She conveyed the news by her supervisor. ✓ She conveyed the news to her supervisor.

Adding an unnecessary preposition

Convey can take a direct object without another preposition.

✕ The article conveys about fear. ✓ The article conveys fear.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The documents were conveyed ___ courier.
2. He conveyed his concerns ___ the committee.
3. The painting conveys ___ sense of calm.

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Frequently asked questions

Can convey be used without a preposition?

Yes. Convey often takes a direct object, such as convey an idea or convey sympathy.

Is convey by used for communication?

Yes, when you mean the method, such as conveyed by email or by satellite.

Can I say convey to someone?

Yes. This is the standard way to mention the receiver of information or feelings.

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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