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Prepositions after verbs

Ignore by or ignore in?

Ignore normally does not take a preposition directly after it. By and in may appear later in the sentence, but they usually belong to another phrase.

Quick answer

Do we say ignore by or ignore in?

Usually, neither. Ignore is normally followed directly by an object: ignore the warning. By and in can appear in a sentence for other reasons, such as ignore someone by refusing to answer or ignore mistakes in a report.

Please ignore the noise.
He ignored her by looking at his phone.
The editor ignored several errors in the article.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
ignore + noun

Not paying attention to something

Ignore is usually a transitive verb followed directly by a noun or pronoun.

They decided to ignore the criticism.
She ignored my message all day.
2
ignore + person/thing + by + -ing

Explaining the method of ignoring

By can introduce the action used to ignore someone or something. It is not a fixed combination with ignore.

He ignored the reporters by avoiding eye contact.
She ignored the comment by changing the subject.
3
ignore + noun + in + place/text

Referring to location or context

In can show where the ignored thing appears. It does not form a fixed verb-preposition pattern with ignore.

The review ignored key evidence in the file.
Students should not ignore spelling mistakes in formal writing.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
ignore
Try to ignore the distractions.
not pay attention to something
ignore by
She ignored him by walking away.
by introduces the method used to ignore someone; it is not a fixed verb-preposition combination
ignore in
The report ignored several trends in the market.
in introduces the place or context of the ignored item, not a standard combination with ignore
ignore someone
Why are you ignoring me?
direct object structure without a preposition

Common mistakes

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

Adding an unnecessary preposition after ignore

Ignore usually takes a direct object without by or in.

✕ Please ignore to the noise. ✓ Please ignore the noise.

Treating ignore by as a fixed phrase

By normally introduces a method or action, not a required preposition after ignore.

✕ We ignore by the warnings. ✓ We ignore the warnings.

Using ignore in before the object

Place the object directly after ignore. Use in only for location or context.

✕ She ignored in the message. ✓ She ignored the message.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Please ___ the background noise.
2. He ignored the question ___ changing the topic.
3. The article ignored several facts ___ the report.

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Frequently asked questions

Is ignore by correct English?

Not as a fixed verb-preposition pattern. By can appear after ignore when it introduces a method, such as ignore someone by leaving the room.

Can I say ignore in?

Only when in introduces a place, text, or context, as in ignore errors in the document.

What structure is most common with ignore?

The usual structure is ignore plus a direct object, such as ignore the advice or ignore him.

identify-with-by-in-as, for illuminate by, with, at, for or in? "illustrate by" or "illustrate in"? "imagine for", "imagine by" or "imagine in"? imbue with, in, by or onto? immigrate to, from, in, with or into? impair by, for, in, because or throughout? "impart to", "impart in" or "impart by"? "impeach by" or "impeach for"? "impinge on" or "impinge upon"? "implement in" or "implement by"? "imply by" or "imply in"?

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