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Prepositions after verbs

Disclose to or disclose in?

Disclose is commonly followed by to when naming the person who receives information. In usually introduces a document, report, or context.

Quick answer

Disclose to vs. disclose in

Use disclose to to name the person or group receiving information. Disclose in is not usually a fixed verb-preposition pattern; in normally introduces the document, report, meeting, or context where the information appears.

The company refused to disclose to investors the full details.
The figures were disclosed in the annual report.
She would not disclose to the press who funded the project.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
disclose to + person or group

Naming who receives information

Use disclose to when someone reveals information to another person, organisation, or audience.

The witness refused to disclose to police the source of the documents.
The company must disclose to shareholders any major risks.
2
disclose in + document or context

Showing where information appears

In often introduces the place, report, or context where information is revealed.

The details were disclosed in court records.
The findings were disclosed in a public statement.
3
disclose + information

Using disclose without a following preposition

Disclose can directly take an object without a preposition.

They refused to disclose the password.
The report disclosed serious safety problems.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
disclose to
She disclosed the plan to her manager.
revealing information to a person or group
disclose in
The information was disclosed in the report.
showing where the information appeared
disclose something
They disclosed the results yesterday.
direct object without a preposition
disclose with
The company disclosed the figures with a short statement.
with introduces an accompanying item, not the recipient of disclosure

Common mistakes

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

Using in for the recipient

Use to for the person receiving information.

✕ She disclosed the details in the lawyer. ✓ She disclosed the details to the lawyer.

Adding an unnecessary preposition

Disclose can take a direct object without to or in.

✕ They disclosed about the agreement. ✓ They disclosed the agreement.

Confusing location and recipient

In refers to the document or context, not the audience.

✕ The company disclosed in investors the new policy. ✓ The company disclosed the new policy to investors.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The report was disclosed ___ the public yesterday.
2. The financial details were disclosed ___ the annual statement.
3. They refused to disclose ___ source.

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Frequently asked questions

Is disclose to the most common pattern?

Yes. It is the standard pattern when naming the person or group receiving information.

Can disclose in be correct?

Yes. In is natural when referring to a report, document, meeting, or similar context.

Do I need a preposition after disclose?

Not always. You can say disclose information, disclose the truth, or disclose details directly.

dabble, in, dabble, with "damage to" or "damage by"? dance to, with, on, in or for? "dangle from" or "dangle in"? dare to, for, on, as or at? dash to, into, out, from or on? daydream about, for, in, of or on? "debate in", "debate on" or "debate with"? deceive by, in, into, on or about? "decide on", "decide to" or "decide by"? declare in, by, on, to or as? decline in, by, from, to or for?

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