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Prepositions before nouns

Confidence with of and with

With confidence is the usual expression for doing something confidently. Of confidence appears in different structures, such as confidence of success or a vote of confidence.

Quick answer

Should I use of confidence or with confidence?

Use with confidence to describe doing something in a confident way. Of confidence is not normally used after verbs like speak or act. However, of can appear in other structures such as confidence of success or vote of confidence.

She answered the questions with confidence.
You can invest with confidence.
The team gained a vote of confidence from management.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
with confidence

Describing confident action

Use with confidence when someone acts, speaks, or decides confidently.

He presented the proposal with confidence.
Customers can shop with confidence.
2
confidence in + noun

Showing trust or belief

Use confidence in to show trust in a person, system, or idea.

She has great confidence in her team.
Public confidence in the system has improved.
3
confidence of + noun

Expressing possession or quality

Confidence of can appear in formal structures referring to a type or source of confidence.

He spoke with the confidence of an experienced lawyer.
She had the quiet confidence of a skilled teacher.
4
vote of confidence

Using a fixed expression

Vote of confidence is a standard idiom meaning public support or approval.

The results were seen as a vote of confidence in the new policy.
Parliament passed a vote of confidence yesterday.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
with confidence
She negotiated with confidence.
The standard expression for acting confidently.
of confidence
A vote of confidence was announced.
Used in certain fixed or descriptive noun phrases, not as a general replacement for with confidence.
confidence in
They have confidence in the process.
Shows trust or belief in something.
confidence of
He spoke with the confidence of a senior manager.
Links confidence to a person or quality in descriptive structures.

Common mistakes

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

Using of confidence instead of with confidence

Use with confidence to describe manner or attitude.

✕ She answered of confidence. ✓ She answered with confidence.

Confusing confidence in with with confidence

Confidence in expresses trust, while with confidence describes manner.

✕ I spoke confidence in. ✓ I spoke with confidence.

Omitting the article in vote of confidence

The expression normally needs an article.

✕ Management gave vote of confidence. ✓ Management gave a vote of confidence.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. He explained the plan ___ confidence.
2. The public has confidence ___ the healthcare system.
3. The election result was seen as a vote ___ confidence.

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Frequently asked questions

Is with confidence the most common expression?

Yes. It is the standard way to describe confident behaviour or action.

Can of confidence ever be correct?

Yes. It appears in fixed phrases such as vote of confidence and descriptive patterns like the confidence of a leader.

What is the difference between confidence in and with confidence?

Confidence in refers to trust or belief, while with confidence describes how someone acts or speaks.

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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