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Prepositions with nouns

For guidance or of guidance?

For guidance is a common expression meaning for advice or help. Of guidance is uncommon and usually appears only after another noun, such as source of guidance.

Quick answer

Choosing between for guidance and of guidance

Use for guidance when asking for help, advice, or direction. Use of guidance only when guidance is linked to another noun, such as type, source, or level.

Please contact us for guidance on visa applications.
Teachers can be a source of guidance for students.
She asked for guidance before making a decision.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
for guidance

Requesting help or advice

For guidance is common in formal and everyday English.

Employees can call HR for guidance at any time.
2
source of guidance

Describing where guidance comes from

Of guidance appears after nouns like source, level, or type.

Her mentor was an important source of guidance.
3
guidance on + topic

Naming the subject of guidance

Guidance is often followed by on to introduce a topic.

The website provides guidance on tax rules.
4
guidance for + group

Identifying who receives guidance

For can introduce the intended audience of the guidance.

The booklet contains guidance for parents.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
for guidance
She contacted a lawyer for guidance.
Means for advice, help, or direction.
of guidance
The booklet is a source of guidance for new staff.
Used after another noun to describe guidance as a quality or resource.
guidance on
We need guidance on this issue.
Introduces the topic or subject.

Common mistakes

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

Using of guidance alone

Of guidance usually needs another noun before it.

✕ She called of guidance. ✓ She called for guidance.

Using for guidance after source

After source, use of guidance.

✕ The teacher was a source for guidance. ✓ The teacher was a source of guidance.

Forgetting the topic after guidance on

Guidance on is usually followed by a subject area.

✕ They issued guidance on. ✓ They issued guidance on safety procedures.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Students can ask advisers ___ guidance.
2. The manual is a source ___ guidance for managers.
3. The agency issued guidance ___ online privacy.

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Frequently asked questions

Is for guidance correct?

Yes. It is a very common way to ask for advice or help.

Can I use of guidance by itself?

Usually no. It normally follows another noun, such as source of guidance.

What preposition follows guidance for a topic?

On is commonly used, as in guidance on safety.

for, admission, of, admission "for adoption", "of adoption" or "to adoption"? "for answer" or "of answer"? "for approval" or "of approval"? for, at, after, to or before lunch? "for breakfast" or "after breakfast"? "for collection" or "of collection"? "for dad" or "with dad"? for, during, in, of or with period? "for enforcement" or "of enforcement"? "for examination" or "of examination"? "for generation" or "of generation"?

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