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Prepositions after verbs

How to use incur

Incur usually takes a direct object with no fixed preposition.

Quick answer

Does incur take by or in?

Incur is normally followed directly by a cost, debt, penalty, or risk. By and in are not standard fixed prepositions after incur, though they may appear in separate phrases.

The company incurred heavy losses.
Drivers may incur a fine for parking illegally.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
incur + cost/debt

Becoming subject to something negative

Use incur directly with costs, debts, penalties, or risks.

The project incurred additional expenses.
2
incur + penalty/risk

Receiving an unwanted consequence

The verb often appears in formal or legal contexts.

Late payment may incur penalties.
3
incur by + action

Separate adjunct with by

By may explain the action causing the result, but it is not selected by incur.

The company incurred losses by expanding too quickly.
4
incur in + activity

Separate adjunct with in

In may introduce a context or activity rather than forming a fixed phrase.

The firm incurred major costs in rebuilding the factory.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
incur
They incurred substantial legal fees.
standard direct-object pattern
incur by
The losses were incurred by poor decisions.
by introduces the cause or agent, not a fixed verb pattern
incur in
The company incurred costs in developing the app.
in introduces the activity or context
incur for
The phrase incur for is generally nonstandard.
usually avoided

Common mistakes

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

Adding an unnecessary preposition

Incur usually takes a direct object.

✕ They incurred in heavy debts. ✓ They incurred heavy debts.

Using by as the main complement

By normally introduces a cause or agent outside the core verb pattern.

✕ He incurred by many expenses. ✓ He incurred many expenses.

Using incur with positive results

Incur usually refers to unwanted consequences.

✓ The delay incurred extra costs.

Confusing incur and occur

Incur means become subject to something.

✓ You may incur a penalty for late filing.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The business incurred significant ___ during the strike.
2. Extra costs were incurred ___ poor planning.
3. The company incurred expenses ___ upgrading its systems.

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Frequently asked questions

Does incur need a preposition?

Usually no. It commonly takes a direct object such as incur costs or incur penalties.

Is incur formal?

Yes. It is frequent in legal, business, and official writing.

Can incur be used for positive things?

Normally no. It usually refers to unpleasant or unwanted consequences.

identify-with-by-in-as, for "ignore by" or "ignore in"? 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"?

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