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Prepositions with nouns

Anxiety: “of anxiety” or “with anxiety”

With anxiety is a common phrase describing manner or emotion. Of anxiety usually appears after another noun, such as symptoms of anxiety.

Quick answer

Which phrase sounds natural?

Use with anxiety to describe someone feeling anxious or doing something anxiously. Use of anxiety when anxiety follows another noun: fear of anxiety, symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety itself is commonly followed by about or over.

She waited with anxiety for the results.
He spoke with anxiety in his voice.
The doctor discussed symptoms of anxiety.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
with anxiety

Describing emotional manner

Use with anxiety when a person acts or feels in an anxious way.

Parents watched with anxiety as the storm approached.
2
anxiety about + topic

Naming the source of worry

Use about before the thing causing worry.

She feels anxiety about public speaking.
3
anxiety over + situation

Talking about concern or stress

Over is common for ongoing situations or problems.

There is growing anxiety over rising prices.
4
noun + of anxiety

Linking anxiety to another noun

Of anxiety usually depends on a previous noun, not on anxiety itself.

The therapist explained the causes of anxiety.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
with anxiety
He opened the email with anxiety.
Describes the emotional state or manner.
of anxiety
They studied the effects of anxiety.
Of connects anxiety to another noun.
anxiety about
Her anxiety about exams increased.
Standard way to name the cause of worry.
anxiety over
Public anxiety over safety remains high.
Common for social or ongoing concerns.

Common mistakes

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

Using of directly after anxiety

Anxiety is not normally followed by of to name the cause.

✕ anxiety of exams ✓ anxiety about exams

Confusing with anxiety and anxiety about

The first describes manner; the second names the source of worry.

✕ She walked anxiety about ✓ She walked with anxiety

Missing an article before noun phrases

Use an article when needed.

✕ He felt anxiety about interview ✓ He felt anxiety about the interview

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She waited ___ anxiety for the test results.
2. His anxiety ___ flying has improved.
3. The symptoms ___ anxiety can vary.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I say with anxiety?

Yes. It describes a person's emotional state or manner.

Is anxiety of something correct?

Usually no. Use anxiety about or anxiety over for the cause of worry.

Why does of anxiety appear in some phrases?

Because of belongs to another noun, as in effects of anxiety or treatment of anxiety.

of, about, against, to or for racism? of, about, for, in or on friendship? of, about, for, on or to thing? of, about, for, to or with sex? of, about, on, to or for moon? "of access" or "with access"? "of accommodation" or "for accommodation"? "of accuracy" or "for accuracy"? "of action" or "in action"? "of actor", "with actor" or "by actor"? "of address" or "to address"? "of administration" or "in administration"?

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