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Prepositions after verbs

Embellish with or embellish by?

Embellish is usually followed by with to show the thing added for decoration or extra detail. By is uncommon directly after embellish and usually introduces the method or agent in a separate structure.

Quick answer

Should I use embellish with or embellish by?

Use embellish with when saying what has been added: embellish a dress with lace. Embellish by is not the usual pattern after the verb. However, by can appear in structures such as embellished by candles, where by introduces the agent or accompanying feature rather than a fixed verb-preposition combination.

She embellished the story with dramatic details.
The designer embellished the jacket with silver buttons.
The hall was embellished by soft lighting.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
embellish + object + with + detail

Adding decoration or extra information

With introduces the thing added to improve appearance or style.

They embellished the ceiling with painted flowers.
He embellished the article with humorous anecdotes.
2
be embellished with + feature

Describing decorative features

The passive form is common when describing objects and clothing.

The scarf was embellished with tiny beads.
3
be embellished by + agent or effect

Using by in passive clauses

By can introduce the thing creating the decorative effect, but it is not the standard complement after embellish.

The entrance was embellished by fresh flowers.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
embellish with
She embellished the speech with personal stories.
Standard pattern for adding decorative or extra elements.
embellish by
The room was embellished by candlelight.
Possible in passive clauses where by introduces the source or agent of the effect.
embellish with details
He embellished the report with charts.
Adds extra material or decoration.
embellish by adding
They embellished the recipe by adding herbs.
By introduces a method phrase, not a direct complement after embellish.

Common mistakes

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

Using embellish by as the main pattern

Use with for the thing added to decorate or improve something.

✕ She embellished the dress by pearls. ✓ She embellished the dress with pearls.

Forgetting the object after embellish

Embellish usually needs an object.

✕ He embellished with extra jokes. ✓ He embellished the story with extra jokes.

Confusing decoration and method

By often introduces a method clause, not the decoration itself.

✕ The cake was embellished by strawberries. ✓ The cake was embellished with strawberries.

Using embellish for factual reporting

Embellish can imply exaggeration in stories and descriptions.

✓ He added inaccurate details to the report.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The artist embellished the frame ___ gold paint.
2. The stage was embellished ___ coloured lights.
3. She embellished the presentation ___ adding animations.

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Frequently asked questions

Is embellish by incorrect?

Not always. It can appear in passive structures or before a method phrase, but with is the normal choice after embellish.

Can embellish mean exaggerate?

Yes. People often embellish stories by adding dramatic or invented details.

What usually follows embellish?

The verb commonly takes an object and then with plus the decorative or additional feature.

earmark-for-by-as-about, at "earn from", "earn by" or "earn in"? "ease into", "ease by" or "ease in"? "eat at", "eat with" or "eat in"? "echo in" or "echo by"? edit by, for, in, to or from? "educate in" or "educate at"? eject from, at, in, into or by? elaborate on, in, upon, by or about? "elect to" or "elect by"? elevate to, in, above, by or as? "eliminate from", "eliminate in" or "eliminate by"?

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