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Prepositions before nouns

By taxi or of taxi?

English uses by taxi to describe transport. Of taxi is not a standard fixed expression.

Quick answer

Correct expression

Use by taxi when talking about travelling using a taxi. Of taxi is not idiomatic as a fixed phrase, though taxi can appear in larger noun phrases such as the driver of the taxi.

We travelled by taxi to the station.
She usually goes home by taxi after late shifts.
The driver of the taxi was friendly.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
by taxi

Talking about means of transport

Use by taxi to describe how someone travels.

They arrived by taxi.
2
take a taxi

Talking about choosing this transport

Use take a taxi when focusing on the action.

We decided to take a taxi because it was raining.
3
taxi to + place

Talking about destination

Taxi to can describe movement toward a place.

They shared a taxi to the airport.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
by taxi
He went to the hotel by taxi.
Using a taxi as transport.
of taxi
Not standard as a fixed phrase.
Use phrases such as driver of the taxi when showing possession.
in a taxi
She left her bag in a taxi.
Inside the vehicle.
take a taxi
We took a taxi after dinner.
Choose or use a taxi.

Common mistakes

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

Using of taxi as a transport phrase

English uses by taxi for transport.

✕ We travelled of taxi. ✓ We travelled by taxi.

Using by a taxi for transport

Do not use an article after by in transport expressions.

✕ He came by a taxi. ✓ He came by taxi.

Confusing by taxi and in a taxi

The meanings are different.

✕ We travelled in taxi. ✓ We travelled by taxi.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. They reached the station ___ taxi.
2. I left my umbrella ___ a taxi.
3. Because of the rain, we decided to ___

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Frequently asked questions

Is by taxi correct?

Yes. It is the normal way to describe travelling using a taxi.

Can I say in a taxi?

Yes. In a taxi refers to being inside the vehicle, not the method of travel.

Is of taxi ever used?

Only inside larger phrases such as the roof of the taxi. It is not a fixed transport expression.

"behind bar" or "of bar"? "beyond description" or "of description"? by, accident, of, accident "by boat" or "of boat"? "by chance" or "of chance"? "by default", "in default" or "of default"? "by extension", "of extension" or "for extension"? "by lot" or "with lot"? by, of, for, in or agreed-upon definition? by, of, in, into or to category? by, of, in, via or on telephone? by, of, on, for or in bus?

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