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Prepositions after verbs

Enclose in, with, or by?

Enclose is commonly followed by in or with depending on meaning. Enclose by is usually not used as a direct verb-preposition combination.

Quick answer

Which preposition goes with enclose?

Use enclose in when something is surrounded by a material or space. Use enclose with when something is included together with another item. Enclose by is generally not idiomatic as a fixed combination after enclose, though by can introduce the agent in passive sentences.

The garden was enclosed in glass walls.
Please find the form enclosed with the invoice.
The land was enclosed in a high fence.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
enclose in + material or space

Showing what surrounds something

Use enclose in when something is completely surrounded by a material, structure, or area.

The courtyard was enclosed in stone walls.
The documents were enclosed in a protective cover.
2
enclose with + included item

Adding something together with a letter or package

Use enclose with mainly in formal or business English to mention an included document or object.

I have enclosed with this letter a copy of the report.
The application was enclosed with supporting documents.
3
be enclosed by + agent or structure

Using by in passive clauses

By is possible when it introduces the thing doing the enclosing, not as a fixed verb-preposition pair.

The park is enclosed by iron gates.
The village was enclosed by mountains.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
enclose in
The wires were enclosed in plastic.
surrounded or covered by something
enclose with
She enclosed the receipt with the application.
included together with something else
enclose by
The area was enclosed by a fence.
possible in passive voice with by showing the enclosing agent
enclose within
The museum is enclosed within the old city walls.
more formal way to stress containment

Common mistakes

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

Using enclose by as a direct combination

Enclose by is not usually used directly after the active verb enclose.

✕ They enclosed the garden by metal bars. ✓ They enclosed the garden with metal bars.

Confusing in and with

Use in for surrounding space or material and with for included items or tools.

✕ The photos were enclosed in the email. ✓ The photos were enclosed with the email.

Missing the passive meaning with by

By normally appears in passive structures after enclosed.

✕ We enclosed by a wall the property. ✓ The property was enclosed by a wall.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The jewels were enclosed ___ a velvet box.
2. I enclosed the certificate ___ my application.
3. The garden was enclosed ___ a stone wall.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I say enclose by?

Usually no as a direct verb-preposition combination. By is mainly used in passive clauses such as enclosed by walls.

What is the difference between enclose in and enclose with?

Enclose in describes surrounding something. Enclose with describes including something together with another item.

Is enclosed with formal?

Yes. It is especially common in business letters and formal correspondence.

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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