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Prepositions with nouns

Of comfort or for comfort?

For comfort is common when talking about purpose, design, or personal ease. Of comfort usually appears after another noun, such as a sense of comfort.

Quick answer

Which phrase is natural?

Use for comfort when something is intended to make people comfortable. Use of comfort after another noun that describes a feeling or source of comfort.

She wears loose clothes for comfort.
The blanket gives a sense of comfort.
They redesigned the seats for comfort and support.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
for comfort

Showing purpose or intended benefit

Use for comfort when something improves physical or emotional ease.

These shoes are made for comfort.
He stayed home for comfort after the surgery.
2
sense/source of comfort

Describing comfort as a feeling

Use of comfort after nouns such as sense, source, or feeling.

Her voice was a source of comfort during the crisis.
The room gave him a feeling of comfort and safety.
3
comfort in + activity

Showing where comfort is found

Use comfort in when describing the thing that provides reassurance or ease.

She found comfort in music.
They took comfort in the positive news.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
for comfort
The chair was designed for comfort.
intended to provide comfort
of comfort
The letter was a source of comfort.
linked to comfort through another noun
comfort in
He found comfort in prayer.
the thing that provides reassurance
comfort with
She is comfortable with uncertainty.
with is used with comfortable, not usually comfort as a noun

Common mistakes

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

Using of comfort without a first noun

Of comfort usually follows a noun such as source or feeling.

✕ This pillow is of comfort. ✓ This pillow is for comfort.

Confusing comfort and comfortable

Comfort is a noun; comfortable is an adjective.

✕ I have comfort with this plan. ✓ I am comfortable with this plan.

Using for comfort after feeling nouns

Feeling expressions usually take of comfort.

✕ She felt a sense for comfort. ✓ She felt a sense of comfort.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. These cushions are designed ___ comfort.
2. His message gave me a feeling ___ comfort.
3. She found comfort ___ painting.

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Frequently asked questions

When should I use for comfort?

Use it when something is intended to provide comfort or ease.

Can of comfort stand alone?

Usually not. It normally follows another noun, such as source of comfort.

Is comfort with correct?

Comfort with is uncommon as a noun phrase. Comfortable with is much more natural.

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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