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Prepositions after verbs

Represent in or represent by?

Represent is usually followed directly by an object. Represent in can describe participation in a group or event. Represent by is generally not idiomatic after the verb.

Quick answer

Which preposition is correct after represent?

Use represent + object for meaning 'act for' or 'symbolize'. Use represent in when referring to participation in an organization, committee, or event. Represent by is usually incorrect after the verb represent, although by may appear separately in passive structures such as be represented by.

She will represent the company at the conference.
Two students represent in the committee is not natural English.
Each region was represented in the survey.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
represent + organisation/person

Act on behalf of someone

Represent commonly takes a direct object without a preposition.

A lawyer may represent the client in court.
2
represented in + group/event

Show participation or presence

Use represented in to say that someone or something has members or presence in a group, report, or event.

Small businesses were represented in the discussion.
3
be represented by + person

Name the representative

In passive structures, by introduces the agent who does the representing.

The artist was represented by a major gallery for ten years.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
represent + object
She represents the sales team.
Standard structure for acting on behalf of someone.
represented in + place/group
All departments are represented in the meeting.
Shows participation or inclusion.
represent by
They represent by local agents.
Nonstandard after the active verb represent.
be represented by + agent
The company is represented by a law firm.
Passive structure naming the representative.

Common mistakes

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

Adding by after active represent

Represent normally takes a direct object.

✕ She represents by the union. ✓ She represents the union.

Using in instead of a direct object

Use a direct object for the basic meaning of acting for someone.

✕ He represents in our company. ✓ He represents our company.

Confusing active and passive forms

Use by with the passive form be represented.

✕ The athlete represented by her country. ✓ The athlete was represented by her country.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. All regions were ___ the final report.
2. The lawyer will ___ the defendant tomorrow.
3. The singer is ___ a new management company.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I say represent by in active sentences?

Usually no. Use represent + object instead.

When do we use represented in?

Use it to show that someone or something is included in a group, event, or document.

Is be represented by correct?

Yes. It is a common passive structure naming the representative.

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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