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Prepositions after verbs

Sprinkle with, on, in, throughout, or to?

Sprinkle is most commonly used with with or on. Other prepositions may appear in specific contexts.

Quick answer

Common uses of sprinkle

Use sprinkle with for adding a substance to something and sprinkle on for putting small amounts onto a surface. Sprinkle in and sprinkle throughout are also possible in cooking or mixing contexts. Sprinkle to is not a standard combination after sprinkle.

She sprinkled with cinnamon before serving.
He sprinkled sugar on the pancakes.
Fresh herbs were sprinkled throughout the salad.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
sprinkle with + substance

Adding something over a surface

Use sprinkle with when the object receives a topping or covering.

The cake was sprinkled with powdered sugar.
2
sprinkle + substance on + surface

Placing small amounts onto something

Use on to show the surface receiving the substance.

She sprinkled salt on the fries.
3
sprinkle in + mixture

Adding gradually while mixing

Use in when something is added into a mixture or process.

Slowly sprinkle in the flour.
4
sprinkle throughout + area/mixture

Distributing evenly

Use throughout for even distribution in all parts of something.

Chocolate chips were sprinkled throughout the batter.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
sprinkle with
The chef sprinkled the pasta with cheese.
covering something with a substance
sprinkle on
She sprinkled cinnamon on the coffee.
putting a substance onto a surface
sprinkle in
Sprinkle in the yeast slowly.
adding into a mixture
sprinkle throughout
Nuts were sprinkled throughout the dessert.
distributed evenly everywhere
sprinkle to
Nonstandard in this meaning
not an idiomatic preposition choice after sprinkle

Common mistakes

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

Using sprinkle to for adding ingredients

English does not normally use sprinkle to after the verb.

✕ Sprinkle sugar to the cake. ✓ Sprinkle sugar on the cake.

Confusing with and on

With describes the thing being covered; on introduces the receiving surface.

✕ She sprinkled with sugar the cookies. ✓ She sprinkled the cookies with sugar.

Using throughout for a single spot

Throughout suggests distribution in all parts.

✕ Sprinkle cheese throughout the centre. ✓ Sprinkle cheese in the centre.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The baker sprinkled the rolls ___ sesame seeds.
2. Please sprinkle some salt ___ the soup.
3. Slowly sprinkle the cocoa ___ the mixture.

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Frequently asked questions

Can sprinkle be used without a preposition?

Yes. You can say sprinkle sugar evenly if the context is clear.

What is the difference between sprinkle with and sprinkle on?

Sprinkle with focuses on the object receiving the topping, while sprinkle on focuses on the surface where the substance goes.

Is sprinkle to correct?

No. Native English normally uses with, on, or in instead.

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?

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