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Prepositions with nouns

Prepositions used with "fault"

Different prepositions with "fault" express blame, criticism, or absence of responsibility.

Quick answer

Common combinations with "fault"

Use "at fault" to mean responsible for a problem. "Fault of" appears in expressions such as "through no fault of his own." "Without fault" means flawless or blameless. "Fault for" is uncommon; English usually uses "blame someone for." "On fault" is not a standard collocation.

The driver was at fault in the accident.
The project failed through no fault of her own.
The machine worked without fault for years.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
at fault

Showing responsibility for a mistake or problem

Use this phrase after forms of the verb be.

Neither company was completely at fault.
2
fault of + noun

Showing whose actions caused a problem

This pattern often appears in the expression "through no fault of."

The delay happened through no fault of the staff.
3
without fault

Describing something flawless or blameless

This phrase is formal and often literary.

Her performance was without fault.
4
find fault with + noun

Criticising someone or something

Use this idiom to talk about criticism.

He always finds fault with my work.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
at fault
The company was at fault.
responsible for a mistake or problem
fault of
It was no fault of yours.
showing who caused the problem
without fault
The engine ran without fault.
perfectly or without mistakes
for fault
He was punished for his faults.
"For" usually relates to punishment or reason, not a fixed collocation with "fault"
on fault
The phrase "on fault" is not standard in this meaning.
generally nonstandard as a collocation with "fault"

Common mistakes

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

Using "on fault" for responsibility

English uses "at fault," not "on fault."

✕ The mechanic was on fault. ✓ The mechanic was at fault.

Using "fault for" instead of "blame for"

Use the verb "blame" when referring to a reason with "for."

✕ They faulted him for the delay. ✓ They blamed him for the delay.

Forgetting the fixed phrase

The standard expression is "through no fault of someone's own."

✓ She lost the job through no fault of her own.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The cyclist was clearly ___ fault.
2. It happened through no fault ___ mine.
3. He always finds fault ___ other people.

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Frequently asked questions

What does "at fault" mean?

It means responsible for a mistake, accident, or problem.

Is "on fault" correct?

No. Standard English uses "at fault."

Can I say "without fault"?

Yes. It means perfectly or without blame, often in formal style.

"across border" or "of border"? as, in, of, to or for part? at, from, of, to or for home? at, of, after, on or for launch? At, of, in, from or with bay? at, of, in, to, from, airport at, of, to, above or by sea? at, of, to, for or in conference? at, of, to, in or for university? "at rest" or "of rest"? "at risk" or "of risk"?

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