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Preposition before noun

Disease with prepositions

Disease commonly appears in phrases such as signs of disease and treatment for disease.

Quick answer

Should I use of disease or for disease?

Of disease is natural in phrases like cause of disease or signs of disease. For disease is used when something is intended to treat, prevent, or study disease.

early signs of disease
a new treatment for disease prevention

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
signs of disease

Showing evidence or cause

Of links disease to symptoms, causes, or effects.

clear signs of disease were visible
2
treatment for disease

Showing purpose or target

For is used with treatment, medicine, and prevention.

research on vaccines for disease control
3
disease in + group

Showing where disease occurs

Use in for populations or body areas.

heart disease in adults

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
of disease
Doctors looked for signs of disease.
shows relation such as cause, sign, or effect
for disease
The clinic provides screening for disease.
shows purpose or target
disease in
The study examined disease in children.
location or affected group
disease of
Alzheimer's is a disease of the brain.
describes the affected organ or system

Common mistakes

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

Using for disease without a purpose noun

For usually depends on a noun like treatment or test.

✕ The patient has for disease. ✓ The patient has a disease.

Confusing of and for

Of shows relation; for shows purpose.

✕ a cure of disease ✓ a cure for disease

Missing the article

Disease is often countable in medical contexts.

✕ She developed rare disease. ✓ She developed a rare disease.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Doctors found signs ___ disease.
2. Researchers are developing a cure ___ disease.
3. The report studied disease ___ older adults.

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Frequently asked questions

When do we use of disease?

Use it in phrases such as signs of disease, cause of disease, and spread of disease.

When do we use for disease?

Use it after words like treatment, cure, or prevention.

Is disease countable?

Yes. You can say a disease, several diseases, or disease in a general sense.

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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