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Prepositions after verbs

"coordinate by" or "coordinate with"?

Coordinate with is the standard pattern for working together or organising activities with someone. Coordinate by is usually used only when by introduces a method.

Quick answer

Which is correct: coordinate by or coordinate with?

Use coordinate with when people or groups organise activities together. Coordinate by is not normally a fixed combination after the verb; by usually introduces a method, as in coordinate by email.

Please coordinate with the marketing team.
The event was coordinated by a local volunteer group.
We usually coordinate by phone during emergencies.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
coordinate with + person/group

Working together or organising jointly

Use with for communication, planning, and cooperation between people or organisations.

She will coordinate with the design department.
Our office coordinates with regional managers daily.
2
coordinate by + method

Showing the method of coordination

By can introduce the means or method used for coordination, not the partner involved.

The teams coordinate by video call.
Emergency crews coordinate by radio.
3
coordinated by + agent

Naming who organised something

In passive structures, by identifies the person or group responsible for coordination.

The campaign was coordinated by senior staff.
Relief efforts were coordinated by the city council.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
coordinate with
Please coordinate with the finance department.
Standard pattern for working together or arranging something jointly.
coordinate by
They coordinate by email each morning.
By introduces the method or means of coordination.
coordinated by
The conference was coordinated by volunteers.
Passive structure showing the organiser or agent.

Common mistakes

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

Using by instead of with for partners

Use with when naming the person or group you work together with.

✕ She coordinated by the legal team. ✓ She coordinated with the legal team.

Confusing active and passive structures

Coordinate by is different from coordinated by in passive voice.

✕ The manager coordinate by the assistants. ✓ The manager coordinated with the assistants.

Using with for methods

Use by for methods such as email, phone, or radio.

✕ They coordinated with email. ✓ They coordinated by email.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Please coordinate ___ the sales team before publishing the report.
2. The rescue units coordinated ___ radio.
3. The festival was coordinated ___ local volunteers.

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Frequently asked questions

Is coordinate with the standard expression?

Yes. Coordinate with is the normal pattern for organising work together.

Can coordinate by be correct?

Yes, when by introduces a method, such as coordinate by phone or by email.

What is the difference between coordinate with and coordinated by?

Coordinate with describes cooperation. Coordinated by is a passive structure that names the organiser.

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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