Sign In Get Started
Prepositions after verbs

Create by or create in?

Create is not usually followed directly by by or in as fixed verb patterns. By and in often introduce method, agent, place, or field information.

Quick answer

Using by and in after create

After create, by usually introduces the person or method involved, often in passive structures. In usually introduces a place, medium, language, or field. Neither preposition is a fixed required partner of create.

The mural was created by a local artist.
She created the design in Photoshop.
The report was created in 2025.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
created by + person

Showing the creator

Use by after passive forms of create to identify who made something.

The sculpture was created by a student.
The app was created by a small team.
2
create by + method

Showing means or process

Create by can describe how something is produced, though create something by doing something is more common.

They created the effect by combining two images.
She created a melody by experimenting with rhythms.
3
create in + software or language

Showing medium or context

Use in for software, languages, artistic styles, or time periods.

He created the model in Blender.
The document was created in English.
4
create + object

Using create without a preposition

Create often takes a direct object with no following preposition.

Scientists created a new material in the lab.
The company created jobs for local residents.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
create by
The effect was created by hand.
by introduces method or agent information
create in
She created the illustration in Procreate.
in introduces software, language, place, or context
created by
The film was created by independent producers.
passive structure naming the creator
create with
Artists create with simple tools.
with introduces instruments or materials

Common mistakes

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

Treating create by as a fixed pattern

By usually belongs to a passive structure or method phrase, not directly to create itself.

✕ They create by engineers the machines. ✓ The machines are created by engineers.

Using in instead of with for tools

Use with for physical tools or materials.

✕ She created the sculpture in clay. ✓ She created the sculpture with clay.

Omitting the object after create

Create usually needs a direct object.

✕ The company created in 2024. ✓ The company was created in 2024.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The logo was ___ a freelance designer.
2. She created the animation ___ Maya.
3. The team created a solution ___ testing several ideas.

Check your sentence in context

Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

Free to try · No signup required

Frequently asked questions

Is create by a fixed expression?

No. By usually introduces the creator or method rather than forming a fixed verb-preposition combination.

When do we use created by?

Use created by in passive sentences to name the person or group responsible.

Can create in refer to software?

Yes. It commonly refers to software, languages, styles, or environments.

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"?

Write with confidence in Linguix

Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.

Create a free account