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Prepositions with nouns

Which preposition goes with “committee”?

Committee is commonly used with on to describe a topic and with of to describe membership. Other prepositions may appear in different sentence structures.

Quick answer

Use “committee on” for topics

A committee on something studies or manages a subject. Committee of describes the members or type of group. On a committee is the usual expression for membership. Committee in, committee to, and committee by are uncommon as direct noun patterns.

She serves on a committee for cultural events.
The government formed a committee on public health.
It is a committee of independent experts.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
committee on + topic

Naming the subject of a committee

Use committee on to describe the issue, field, or subject the committee deals with.

They established a committee on climate policy.
The university created a committee on student welfare.
2
committee of + people/group

Describing membership or composition

Use committee of to identify the members or nature of the committee.

It was a committee of senior advisers.
The panel became a committee of local representatives.
3
on a committee

Talking about membership

Use on a committee when saying that someone is a member of a committee.

She has served on a committee for three years.
I worked on the committee last summer.
4
committee for + purpose

Describing a committee's purpose

Committee for is also common when the phrase expresses the purpose or function of the group.

They formed a committee for disaster relief.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
committee on
The city announced a committee on housing reform.
The standard pattern for the topic or area of responsibility.
committee of
It is a committee of experienced researchers.
Shows who belongs to the committee.
committee in
She spoke about changes in committee procedures.
In usually belongs to another phrase such as in committee or in committee procedures, not directly to committee as a fixed pattern.
committee to
The board appointed a committee to review the policy.
To introduces an infinitive of purpose after committee, not a fixed preposition pattern.
committee by
The proposal was approved by the committee.
By introduces the agent of an action rather than forming a noun-preposition combination.

Common mistakes

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

Using “in a committee” for membership

Use on a committee for membership in most contexts.

✕ She is in a committee at work. ✓ She is on a committee at work.

Using “committee to” as a fixed noun pattern

Committee to is usually followed by a verb phrase expressing purpose.

✕ They formed a committee to education reform. ✓ They formed a committee on education reform.

Confusing “committee of” and “committee on”

Of describes members. On describes the subject area.

✕ a committee of tax policy ✓ a committee on tax policy

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The university formed a committee ___ academic standards.
2. She served ___ the committee for two years.
3. It is a committee ___ local business leaders.

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Frequently asked questions

Do we say “on a committee” or “in a committee”?

On a committee is the usual expression for being a member.

What does “committee on” mean?

It introduces the topic or field the committee works on, such as a committee on finance.

Is “committee by” correct?

By is not normally part of a fixed pattern with committee. It usually introduces the agent in a passive sentence, such as approved by the committee.

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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