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Prepositions with nouns

How to use prepositions with "belief"

The noun "belief" is most commonly followed by in when talking about faith, trust, or confidence. Other prepositions may appear in specific contexts.

Quick answer

Most common patterns with "belief"

Use belief in for faith or confidence in someone or something. Belief that introduces a clause. Phrases such as beyond belief are fixed expressions. "Belief on" is generally not idiomatic for this meaning.

Her belief in free speech remained strong.
They shared the belief that change was possible.
The story was beyond belief.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
belief in + idea/person

Showing faith or confidence

Use belief in to express trust, faith, or acceptance of something as true.

His belief in democracy never changed.
She lost her belief in the system.
2
belief that + clause

Expressing an opinion or conviction

Use belief that before a full clause.

There is a widespread belief that exercise improves mood.
3
beyond belief

Describing something unbelievable

Beyond belief is a fixed expression meaning extremely surprising or hard to accept.

The prices were beyond belief last summer.
4
belief of + noun

Referring to someone's belief

Belief of is used mainly when identifying whose belief something is.

The belief of many voters shaped the debate.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
belief in
Her belief in justice guided her career.
Standard form for faith, trust, or confidence.
belief that
They held the belief that education matters.
Used before a clause expressing a conviction.
beyond belief
The damage was beyond belief.
Fixed expression meaning unbelievable.
belief to
They came to a belief in reform.
Belief to is not normally used directly after belief.
belief on
Their views on climate are strong.
On usually belongs to another noun such as views or opinion, not belief itself.
belief with
She spoke with confidence and belief in the project.
With is usually an additional phrase, not the preposition selected by belief.

Common mistakes

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

Using belief on for opinions

English normally uses belief in or belief that.

✕ their belief on equality ✓ their belief in equality

Using belief to directly before a noun

Belief is not normally followed by to alone.

✕ belief to science ✓ belief in science

Confusing beyond belief with a literal meaning

Beyond belief is an idiomatic phrase meaning unbelievable.

✕ The noise was beyond belief to us. ✓ The noise was beyond belief.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She has strong ___ human rights.
2. Many people share the belief ___ hard work leads to success.
3. The confusion after the storm was ___ belief.

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Frequently asked questions

Is "belief in" the most common pattern?

Yes. It is the standard way to express faith, trust, or confidence.

Can I say "belief on"?

Usually no. English normally uses belief in or belief that.

What does "beyond belief" mean?

It means extremely surprising or difficult to believe.

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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