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Prepositions after verbs

Scar by or scar on?

Scar by can describe the cause of scarring. Scar on usually refers to the location of a scar and not a fixed verb pattern.

Quick answer

How is scar used with prepositions?

As a verb, scar is often followed by by to show the cause: scarred by fire. On usually introduces the place where a scar appears: a scar on her arm.

He was scarred by the accident.
The wall was scarred by smoke damage.
She had a scar on her knee.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
scarred by + cause

Showing what caused damage

Use scarred by for physical or emotional damage caused by an event.

The town was scarred by war.
She felt scarred by the experience.
2
scar on + body part or surface

Showing location

On introduces the place where the scar exists. It is not selected by the verb scar.

There is a visible scar on his cheek.
The table has a burn scar on one corner.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
scarred by
He was scarred by the explosion.
Describe the cause of scarring or trauma.
scar on
She has a scar on her hand.
Describe the location of a scar.
scar with
The disease scarred his lungs with permanent damage.
Less common pattern showing the resulting mark or damage.

Common mistakes

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

Using on after the verb scar

On usually describes location, not the cause after the verb.

✕ He was scarred on the fire. ✓ He was scarred by the fire.

Confusing noun and verb structures

Scar on is common with the noun scar.

✕ The injury scar on his face. ✓ The injury left a scar on his face.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The child was scarred ___ the explosion.
2. She has a small scar ___ her chin.
3. The region remains scarred ___ years of conflict.

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Frequently asked questions

Can scar be used emotionally?

Yes. People can be emotionally scarred by traumatic experiences.

Is scar on a verb pattern?

Usually no. On commonly introduces the location of the scar.

What is the difference between scar and wound?

A wound is an injury, while a scar is the mark left after healing.

sack, by, sack, for, sack, from "sacrifice for" or "sacrifice to"? sail from, in, for, to or through? "salvage from" or "salvage in"? sanction by, for, in, with or according? satisfy with, by, in, about or after? "saturate with" or "saturate in"? save by, for, from, on or in? "say in", "say about" or "say to"? "scan for", "scan in" or "scan through"? scatter in, across, around, throughout or on? score in, on, for, at or with?

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