Declare is often used with as and to in formal English. Other prepositions usually introduce methods, topics, or contexts rather than direct complements.
Use declare as to classify someone or something, and declare to when announcing something to a person or authority. By often introduces method, while in and on usually add context or topic information.
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
Use as when naming a role, category, or status in formal contexts.
Use to before the audience, authority, or recipient of the declaration.
By introduces the agent or method in passive structures.
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
On usually introduces a topic, not a standard complement after declare.
✕ They declared on bankruptcy. ✓ They declared bankruptcy.To introduces the recipient, while as introduces a role or status.
✕ She declared him to the winner. ✓ She declared him as the winner.In usually refers to context or location, not identity.
✕ The area was declared in a protected zone. ✓ The area was declared as a protected zone.Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.
Yes. Many common uses take a direct object, such as declare war or declare bankruptcy.
No. In some styles, especially American English, the object may appear without as, such as declared him the winner.
Only when on introduces a topic of discussion. It is not the usual complement after declare.
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