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Prepositions with nouns

How to use prepositions with council

Council appears with different prepositions in formal titles, meetings, and communication.

Quick answer

Common prepositions with council

Use council of in official names and descriptions, in council for formal meetings or sessions, and to the council for communication or direction. The phrase of council by itself is not standard.

the Council of Ministers
the committee met in council
she submitted a proposal to the council
members of the council voted unanimously

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
Council of + group/place

Official titles and formal names

Use Council of in institutional names.

the Council of Europe
the Council of Elders
2
in council

Formal meetings or sessions

Use in council in formal or legal contexts to mean meeting officially.

the leaders gathered in council
the board sat in council for two hours
3
to the council

Communication and direction

Use to when something is sent, presented, or directed toward a council.

a complaint was sent to the council
she spoke to the council about housing
4
of the council

Membership or relationship

Use of the council to show connection or belonging.

the chair of the council resigned
members of the council approved the plan

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
of council
The phrase of council alone is not a standard fixed expression.
generally nonidiomatic without another noun
in council
The ministers met in council yesterday.
meeting formally as a council
to council
Use to the council rather than to council in standard English.
direction normally requires an article
Council of
The Council of Europe issued a statement.
official institutional name
of the council
Several members of the council opposed the plan.
relationship or membership

Common mistakes

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

Using of council alone

English normally needs a fuller phrase such as Council of Europe or member of the council.

✕ of council ✓ of the council

Omitting the after to

Council usually takes an article when referring to a specific body.

✕ She wrote to council. ✓ She wrote to the council.

Using in council in informal situations

In council is formal and less common in everyday English.

✓ The committee met in council.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The proposal was submitted ___ the council.
2. The delegates gathered ___ council.
3. The ___ Europe issued new guidelines.

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Frequently asked questions

What does in council mean?

It means meeting or acting officially as a council.

Is to council correct?

Standard English usually requires an article: to the council.

Can I say of council?

Not usually by itself. Use a fuller phrase such as member of the council or Council of Europe.

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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