manage to + verb
Showing successful completion
Manage to means succeed in doing something, often with difficulty.
He managed to solve the problem.
Manage by vs. manage to
Manage by and manage to have different grammar and meanings. Manage to is much more common for successful completion of an action.
Quick answer
When do we use manage by and manage to?
Use manage to plus a verb when someone succeeds in doing something. Use manage by plus an action or method to explain how someone copes or achieves something.
She managed to finish the report on time.
They managed by cutting unnecessary costs.
They managed by cutting unnecessary costs.
Choose the pattern by meaning
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
manage by + -ing form
Showing method or strategy
By introduces the method used to cope or achieve something.
We managed by sharing the workload.
manage without + noun
Showing absence of something
Without introduces something not available.
She managed without extra help.
See the difference in context
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Construction
Example
Meaning
manage by
The company managed by reducing expenses.
cope or succeed through a method
manage to
I managed to catch the last train.
succeed in doing something
manage with
We can manage with two staff members.
cope using available resources
Common mistakes
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Using manage by before a base verb
After by, use a noun or -ing form.
✕ They managed by save money. ✓ They managed by saving money.Using manage to with a noun only
Manage to is followed by a verb.
✕ She managed to the task. ✓ She managed to complete the task.Quick practice
Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
1. He managed ___ repair the engine.
2. They managed ___ working overtime.
3. We can manage ___ a smaller budget.
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Frequently asked questions
Is manage to followed by a verb?
Yes. It is followed by the base form of a verb, such as manage to finish.
Can manage by describe a method?
Yes. It explains how someone succeeds or copes.
Is manage by common in business English?
Yes. It often appears in explanations of strategies or cost-saving methods.
Related preposition guides
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