Sign In Get Started
Prepositions after verbs

set with in, for, by, to, and on

The verb set combines with several prepositions and particles to create different meanings.

Quick answer

Which preposition is used with set?

Set in often refers to something beginning or being located in a place or period. Set for means scheduled or prepared for something. Set by can mean established by someone. Set to means begin doing something energetically. Set on can mean attack or strongly direct attention toward someone.

Winter has set in early this year.
The meeting is set for Monday.
The rules were set by the committee.
They set to work immediately.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
set in

Describing the start of something

Set in often refers to weather, conditions, or processes beginning and continuing.

Darkness set in before we arrived.
Panic set in after the announcement.
2
set for + time/event

Showing a schedule or planned event

Use set for to describe an arranged time or purpose.

The interview is set for Thursday.
A new tax rate is set for next year.
3
set by + person/rule

Showing who establishes something

Use by to identify the person or group responsible for a rule or standard.

The limits were set by law.
Prices are set by the company.
4
set to + activity

Beginning work energetically

Set to is a phrasal verb meaning start doing something with energy.

The children set to cleaning the room.
We set to work at dawn.
5
set on + target/person

Directing or causing an attack

Set on can mean order someone to attack or focus strongly on a target.

The dogs were set on the intruder.
Reporters set on the politician after the scandal.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
set in
A cold wind set in overnight.
means begin and continue
set for
The launch is set for July.
shows a planned time
set by
The standards were set by experts.
shows who established something
set to
They set to preparing dinner.
means begin actively
set on
The guards were set on the thieves.
means direct against or attack

Common mistakes

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

Using to for schedules

Use set for with dates and times.

✕ The exam is set to Friday. ✓ The exam is set for Friday.

Confusing set in and set into

Set in is the standard phrasal verb for beginnings such as weather or panic.

✕ Fear set into after the news. ✓ Fear set in after the news.

Using by for location

Set by usually means established by someone, not located near something.

✕ The story is set by Paris. ✓ The story is set in Paris.

Misusing set on for ordinary work

Set on usually involves attack or forceful direction.

✕ We set on writing the report. ✓ We set to writing the report.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The conference is set ___ October.
2. After the storm, panic set ___.
3. The policy was set ___ the board of directors.

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

What does set in mean?

Set in means begin and continue, especially for weather, darkness, or emotions.

Is set to the same as start to?

Set to often suggests beginning an activity energetically or seriously.

Can set on mean attack?

Yes. Set on can mean cause people or animals to attack someone.

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"? "scar by" or "scar on"? scatter in, across, around, throughout or on?

Write with confidence in Linguix

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

Create a free account