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Prepositions after verbs

Convince by, about, or of?

Convince of is the most common pattern for beliefs or facts. Convince about is used for topics. By usually introduces the method or evidence.

Quick answer

How do you use convince with prepositions?

Use convince someone of something for beliefs or facts. Use convince someone about something for a topic under discussion. By can describe the method used to persuade someone.

She convinced me of her honesty.
They convinced us about the risks eventually.
He convinced the board by presenting clear data.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
convince someone of + fact or belief

Changing someone's belief

Use of for the idea, fact, or truth that the person accepts.

The lawyer convinced the jury of his client's innocence.
She convinced me of the need for change.
2
convince someone about + topic

Discussing or explaining a subject

About introduces the topic being discussed or explained.

They convinced investors about the project's value.
He tried to convince her about the benefits of remote work.
3
convince someone by + method

Showing how persuasion happened

By introduces the method, evidence, or action used to persuade.

She convinced the team by giving a live demonstration.
The charity convinced donors by sharing real stories.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
convince of
The report convinced us of the danger.
persuade someone that something is true
convince about
They convinced him about the plan's benefits.
persuade someone regarding a topic
convince by
She convinced the committee by using clear evidence.
show the method of persuasion
convince someone to
He convinced me to apply.
persuade someone to take action

Common mistakes

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

Using by for the belief itself

By introduces the method, not the idea accepted.

✕ She convinced me by her innocence. ✓ She convinced me of her innocence.

Omitting the object after convince

Convince normally needs a person or group as the object.

✕ The article convinced of the problem. ✓ The article convinced readers of the problem.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The evidence convinced the jury ___ his guilt.
2. She convinced us ___ the issue by showing statistics.
3. He convinced investors ___ presenting a detailed plan.

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Frequently asked questions

Is convince of more common than convince about?

Yes. Convince of is the standard pattern for beliefs or facts.

Can by follow convince?

Yes, when you describe the method of persuasion, such as by explaining or by showing evidence.

Can convince be followed by an infinitive?

Yes. You can say convince someone to do something.

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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