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Prepositions with nouns

Prepositions with conspiracy

Conspiracy commonly appears with to, between, or involving. The phrases of conspiracy and with conspiracy are usually not standard standalone combinations. For conspiracy may appear in legal contexts after charged or convicted.

Quick answer

Which combinations are natural?

Use conspiracy to + verb for a secret plan to do something illegal or harmful. For conspiracy can follow legal verbs such as charged or convicted. Of conspiracy and with conspiracy are not usual standalone combinations.

They were accused of conspiracy to commit fraud.
He was charged for conspiracy in a state court.
The investigation uncovered a conspiracy between officials and contractors.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
conspiracy to + verb

Describing the planned illegal act

Use conspiracy to followed by a verb to describe the intended action.

She was arrested for conspiracy to traffic drugs.
The case involved conspiracy to defraud investors.
2
conspiracy between + groups

Identifying the participants

Use between to show who took part in the conspiracy.

Investigators found a conspiracy between rival firms.
The report described a conspiracy between officials and smugglers.
3
charged with conspiracy

Using conspiracy in legal accusations

In legal English, charged with conspiracy is very common.

The suspect was charged with conspiracy.
Three executives were charged with conspiracy to bribe officials.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
of conspiracy
The phrase of conspiracy is not normally used alone in modern English.
Usually nonstandard except inside larger noun phrases.
with conspiracy
Police charged the suspect with conspiracy.
Natural after charged or accused in legal contexts.
for conspiracy
He was convicted for conspiracy under state law.
Possible in some legal contexts after convicted or punished.
conspiracy to + verb
They discussed a conspiracy to manipulate prices.
A secret plan to perform an illegal or harmful action.

Common mistakes

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

Using of conspiracy as a general pattern

English usually uses conspiracy to, conspiracy between, or legal structures with with.

✕ They were accused of conspiracy of theft. ✓ They were accused of conspiracy to commit theft.

Using with conspiracy after unrelated verbs

With conspiracy mainly follows legal verbs such as charge or accuse.

✓ The case involved a conspiracy between suppliers.

Confusing conspiracy and collaboration

Conspiracy usually implies secrecy and wrongdoing.

✓ The article alleged a conspiracy to hide evidence.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The defendants were charged ___ conspiracy.
2. Police uncovered a conspiracy ___ commit fraud.
3. Investigators found a conspiracy ___ two companies.

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Frequently asked questions

Is charged with conspiracy correct?

Yes. It is a common legal expression.

Can I say conspiracy for fraud?

English more commonly uses conspiracy to commit fraud.

Is for conspiracy always wrong?

No. It can appear after legal verbs such as convicted or punished, although with conspiracy is more common after charged.

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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