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Prepositions with nouns

In partnership or of partnership?

In partnership is the standard expression for working together. Of partnership usually appears only inside longer noun phrases.

Quick answer

Which form is standard?

Use in partnership to describe cooperation or a business relationship. Of partnership is not usually used alone, but it can appear in phrases such as terms of partnership or dissolution of partnership.

The two companies worked in partnership for five years.
She went into partnership with her sister.
They acted in partnership with a charity.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
in partnership

Describing cooperation

Use in partnership to show that people or organisations are working together.

The schools operate in partnership.
We developed the app in partnership with local designers.
2
partnership with + person or organisation

Naming the other party

Use partnership with to identify who is involved in the cooperation.

The university formed a partnership with a hospital.
They announced a partnership with a technology company.
3
of partnership

Using of in larger noun phrases

Of partnership is possible after another noun, especially in legal or formal language.

They discussed the terms of partnership.
The lawyer explained the dissolution of partnership rules.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
in partnership
The brands worked in partnership.
Working together cooperatively.
of partnership
The terms of partnership were updated.
Used in a larger phrase about a partnership.
partnership with
She formed a partnership with a designer.
Naming the partner organisation or person.

Common mistakes

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

Using of partnership as a general expression

English does not normally use of partnership to mean cooperation.

✕ The firms worked of partnership. ✓ The firms worked in partnership.

Confusing in partnership and into partnership

In partnership describes a state; into partnership describes a change.

✕ She went in partnership with him last year. ✓ She went into partnership with him last year.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The charities worked ___ partnership on the campaign.
2. They entered ___ partnership in 2022.
3. The terms ___ partnership were revised.

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Frequently asked questions

Is in partnership formal?

It is common in both formal and professional English, especially in business and public projects.

Can I say partnership with someone?

Yes. Partnership with is a very common pattern.

Why does of partnership sometimes appear?

It usually follows another noun in legal or descriptive phrases, such as agreement of partnership or terms of partnership.

"in act" or "of act"? "in agreement" or "of agreement"? "in appearance" or "of appearance"? "in area" or "of area"? in, at, on, of or to hand? "in attempt" or "of attempt"? "in battle" or "of battle"? "in celebration", "of celebration" or "for celebration"? "in chain" or "of chain"? "in chapter" or "of chapter"? "in charge" or "of charge"? "in check" or "of check"?

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