Pursue usually takes a direct object: pursue a goal, pursue a career, pursue legal action. “Pursue by” is uncommon as a direct combination, while “pursue in” appears mainly when “in” introduces an area or activity.
Standard English usually uses pursue with a direct object, not with “by” or “in” directly after the verb. “Pursue in” can appear when “in” introduces a field or activity, such as “pursue opportunities in science.” “By” is more often part of a separate phrase explaining method or agent.
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
Use pursue directly with the thing you want, continue, or try to achieve.
Use “in” after the object to show the field, industry, or subject area.
In passive structures, “by” introduces the agent performing the action.
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
English normally uses a direct object after pursue.
✕ She pursued by new methods. ✓ She pursued new methods.Use an object before “in” when naming a field or context.
✕ He pursued in science. ✓ He pursued a career in science.Use “pursued by” only when the subject receives the action.
✕ The police pursued by the suspect. ✓ The suspect was pursued by the police.Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
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Usually an object comes first: pursue a career in medicine, pursue research in biology.
It is uncommon as an active verb pattern. It mainly appears in passive structures such as “was pursued by the police.”
In most cases, yes. English commonly uses pursue with a goal, activity, career, or action.
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