Sign In Get Started
Prepositions after verbs

mark by or mark with?

Mark with is the usual active pattern for adding a symbol, stain, or feature. Mark by is uncommon as an active verb pattern and is more natural in passive descriptions such as marked by.

Quick answer

Choosing between mark by and mark with

Use mark with when describing the symbol, colour, or feature added to something. Marked by is common in passive expressions describing a characteristic or event.

Please mark the boxes with a red pen.
The period was marked by rapid change.
She marked the page with a sticky note.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
mark + object with + symbol/tool

Adding a sign or feature

With introduces the mark, colour, tool, or feature added to something.

He marked the map with blue circles.
The teacher marked the essays with comments.
2
marked by + feature/event

Describing a characteristic

Marked by is common in passive descriptions of periods, styles, or situations.

The decade was marked by economic growth.
Her speech was marked by confidence.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
mark with
They marked the trail with ribbons.
add a visible sign, tool, or feature
mark by
The era was marked by uncertainty.
passive pattern describing a characteristic or influence

Common mistakes

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

Using mark by in active clauses

In active use, with is usually the natural choice.

✕ She marked the paper by a red star. ✓ She marked the paper with a red star.

Confusing with and by

With names the added mark; by describes a characteristic in passive structures.

✕ The year was marked with political unrest. ✓ The year was marked by political unrest.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The teacher marked the answers ___ green ink.
2. The conference was marked ___ heated debate.
3. She marked the route ___ small flags.

Check your sentence in context

Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

Free to try · No signup required

Frequently asked questions

Is marked with ever correct?

Yes. It is common for physical signs or visible features, such as marked with ink or marked with scars.

Why is marked by common in passive sentences?

It describes what characterises or defines a period, event, or situation.

Can mark be used without a preposition?

Yes. For example: Please mark the correct answer.

magnify, by, magnify, in "maintain by" or "maintain in"? make by, in, for, of or to? "manage by" or "manage to"? manifest in, by, as, into or on? manipulate by, in, for, with or into? mar by, with, at, for or as? march in, to, on, into or through? "market in" or "market to"? "marry to" or "marry in"? masquerade as, under, at or Like? "massacre in" or "massacre by"?

Write with confidence in Linguix

Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.

Create a free account