Sign In Get Started
Prepositions with nouns

Speed with different prepositions

At speed is a common fixed expression. For speed and of speed are possible in more limited grammatical contexts with different meanings.

Quick answer

Which preposition is used with speed?

Use at speed to describe movement happening quickly. For speed describes purpose or advantage. Of speed is uncommon and usually appears in technical or descriptive phrases such as changes of speed.

The train was travelling at speed through the tunnel.
They redesigned the system for speed.
The machine allows rapid changes of speed.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
at speed

Describing fast movement

At speed means moving quickly or operating rapidly.

The vehicle approached at speed.
2
for speed

Showing purpose or design

For speed explains that something is intended to improve or prioritise quickness.

The software was optimised for speed.
3
changes of speed

Describing variation in movement

Of speed appears in certain technical or descriptive noun phrases.

Pilots must manage sudden changes of speed carefully.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
at speed
The motorcycle passed at speed.
A fixed expression meaning quickly or rapidly.
for speed
The car was built for speed.
Shows purpose, design, or advantage.
of speed
The sensor measures changes of speed.
Used in limited descriptive phrases.

Common mistakes

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

Using of speed as a general phrase

Of speed is not a common general pattern.

✕ She drove of speed on the highway. ✓ She drove at speed on the highway.

Confusing at speed with for speed

At speed describes movement. For speed describes purpose or design.

✕ The engine runs for speed down the track. ✓ The engine runs at speed down the track.

Using at speed after design verbs

For speed is more natural when talking about design goals.

✕ The app was created at speed. ✓ The app was created for speed.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The train entered the station ___ speed.
2. The device was engineered ___ speed.
3. The graph shows changes ___ speed over time.

Check your sentence in context

Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

Free to try · No signup required

Frequently asked questions

Is at speed a fixed expression?

Yes. It commonly means moving quickly or operating rapidly.

Can I use for speed?

Yes. It is natural when talking about design, purpose, or optimisation.

Is of speed common?

No. It appears mainly in limited technical or descriptive noun phrases.

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"?

Write with confidence in Linguix

Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.

Create a free account