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Prepositions after verbs

How to use re-elect correctly

Re-elect commonly takes a direct object and may be followed by to or as for the position involved.

Quick answer

Correct patterns with re-elect

Use re-elect someone or re-elect someone as/to a position. Re-elect for can appear with a term or purpose. Re-elect in and re-elect on are not standard complements after the verb.

Voters re-elected the mayor.
She was re-elected as chairperson.
He was re-elected to the committee.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
re-elect + person

Choosing someone again

Re-elect usually takes the person directly after the verb.

The members re-elected Maria unanimously.
Citizens re-elected the governor last week.
2
re-elect + person + as + role

Naming the role or title

As introduces the office or function.

They re-elected him as party leader.
She was re-elected as treasurer.
3
re-elect + person + to + position

Showing the office or institution

To often introduces a board, committee, or office.

The board re-elected her to the executive committee.
He was re-elected to parliament.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
re-elect in
The party won in April, but voters re-elected the mayor in June.
In usually expresses time or place separately, not a complement after re-elect.
re-elect to
She was re-elected to the council.
Standard pattern for offices and institutions.
re-elect as
They re-elected him as president.
Standard pattern naming the role.
re-elect for
The senator was re-elected for another term.
For can introduce a period or purpose, not usually the office itself.
re-elect on
He campaigned on tax reform before voters re-elected him.
On belongs to the campaign phrase, not to re-elect.

Common mistakes

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

Using in as a complement

In normally gives time or place information, not the elected role.

✕ She was re-elected in chairperson. ✓ She was re-elected as chairperson.

Using on directly after re-elect

On is not a standard complement after re-elect.

✕ They re-elected him on the board. ✓ They re-elected him to the board.

Using for with the office

For usually refers to a term length, not the position itself.

✕ She was re-elected for parliament. ✓ She was re-elected to parliament.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The members re-elected her ___ president.
2. He was re-elected ___ the city council.
3. The mayor was re-elected ___ another four-year term.

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Frequently asked questions

Can re-elect be used without a preposition?

Yes. You can simply say voters re-elected the mayor.

What is the difference between as and to after re-elect?

As introduces a title, while to usually introduces an office, committee, or institution.

Is re-elect on correct?

Not as a fixed pattern. On usually belongs to another phrase in the sentence.

radiate-from-into-around-to, with "raise in" or "raise by"? rake in, through, across, at or over? rally in, around, to, behind or on? "rape by" or "rape in"? ratify by, in, on, according or as? ravage by, from, on, through or with? rave about, at, from, to or before? reach for, by, at, to or into? react to, with, in, by or like? read about, in, on, through or for? "realize in", "realize at" or "realize by"?

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