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Prepositions before nouns

“Of crime”, “in crime”, or “for crime”?

These combinations have different meanings. In crime and of crime are common in specific contexts, while for crime usually appears in legal or punishment-related expressions.

Quick answer

Using prepositions with “crime”

Use in crime for involvement or situations within criminal activity, of crime after nouns like rate or victim, and for crime when talking about punishment, arrests, or responsibility.

Police are working to reduce violence in crime statistics.
The city has a high rate of crime.
He was arrested for crime related offences.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
in crime

Involvement or activity within criminal behaviour

Use in crime for participation, trends, or situations connected with criminal activity.

The report examined increases in crime.
Two partners in crime were arrested yesterday.
2
of crime

Describing types, rates, or victims

Use of crime after nouns such as rate, fear, or victim.

Residents discussed the fear of crime.
The region has a low rate of crime.
3
for crime

Punishment or legal responsibility

Use for crime in legal contexts involving blame, arrest, or punishment, often with another word such as offences or acts.

The suspect was jailed for crime-related activities.
The government introduced tougher penalties for crime.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
of crime
The fear of crime affects many communities.
Describes a connection to crime through another noun.
in crime
There has been a rise in crime this year.
Refers to criminal activity or involvement.
for crime
The city increased penalties for crime.
Relates to punishment, prevention, or legal response.

Common mistakes

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

Using “of crime” without a main noun

Of crime usually follows another noun.

✕ The city suffers of crime ✓ The city suffers from crime

Confusing “in crime” and “of crime”

Use in for increases or participation, and of after nouns like rate or fear.

✕ a rise of crime ✓ a rise in crime

Using “for crime” alone after arrested

Arrested for crime sounds incomplete without context.

✕ He was arrested for crime ✓ He was arrested for a crime

Using “in crime” for victims

Victim normally takes of.

✕ victims in crime ✓ victims of crime

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. There has been an increase ___ crime this year.
2. Many people worry about the fear ___ crime.
3. The government introduced tougher penalties ___ crime.

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Frequently asked questions

What does “partners in crime” mean?

It can literally mean criminal partners or jokingly describe close friends who do things together.

Why do we say “rise in crime”?

Increase and rise usually take in when describing changes in levels or numbers.

Is “for crime” always correct?

No. It mainly appears in legal or punishment contexts and often needs more detail, such as for a crime or penalties for crime.

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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