Withhold is most commonly followed by from when someone is denied something. Other prepositions usually belong to different sentence parts rather than forming a fixed pattern with the verb.
Use withhold from when a person, group, or organisation does not give something to someone. Withhold for is possible in specific contexts such as reserving payment or information for later use. By, in, and on are usually separate adjuncts, not fixed combinations with withhold.
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
Use from to show the person or group denied information, money, support, or permission.
For can express a reason, purpose, or period connected to the withholding.
The verb can stand alone when the context already makes the affected person clear.
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Use from for the affected person.
✕ They withheld the documents by the client. ✓ They withheld the documents from the client.From introduces the person affected. For usually gives a reason or duration.
✕ The bank withheld the refund for customers. ✓ The bank withheld the refund from customers.Withhold can take a direct object without a preposition.
✕ The editor withheld from publication the article. ✓ The editor withheld the article from publication.Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.
Yes. It is the standard pattern when someone is denied something.
Yes, especially for reasons, purposes, or periods, such as withheld for tax purposes.
Only in passive structures such as withheld by the company. It is not a regular verb-preposition combination.
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