Prepositions with nouns

Of expense, for expense or in expense?

Expense is usually used with of, for, or in as part of larger fixed expressions, not as standalone combinations.

Quick answer

How to use expense with prepositions

Use expense of someone or at the expense of someone in fixed expressions. Use expenses for something to show purpose. Use increase in expenses to describe change within costs. The combinations of expense, for expense, and in expense are uncommon on their own.

They travelled at the expense of the company.
The hotel charges are expenses for the conference.
We noticed an increase in expenses last month.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

at the expense of + person/thing

Showing disadvantage or cost to someone

This fixed expression means that one thing happens while harming another person or priority.

Profit grew at the expense of customer service.

He succeeded at the expense of his health.

expenses for + purpose

Showing what costs are related to

Use for to identify the activity, event, or project connected with the expenses.

They claimed expenses for travel.

The budget includes expenses for training.

increase in expenses

Describing change in costs

Use in with nouns like increase, reduction, or rise to describe movement within expenses.

There was an increase in expenses this quarter.

The report showed a reduction in expenses.

See the difference in context

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

Construction

Example

Meaning

of expense

The management of expense is important in small businesses.

Usually appears after another noun such as management or control.

for expense

The company set aside money for expenses.

For expense alone is uncommon; for expenses is more natural.

in expense

There was a rise in expenses this year.

In is natural with change nouns such as rise or increase.

at the expense of

He worked long hours at the expense of family time.

Fixed expression meaning with negative cost to someone or something.

Common mistakes

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

Using expense instead of expenses for costs

Plural expenses is more common for practical business or travel costs.

✕ They submitted expense for meals. ✓ They submitted expenses for meals.

Using for expense alone

English usually uses for expenses or expense for a specific purpose.

✕ They saved money for expense. ✓ They saved money for future expenses.

Confusing in expenses with at the expense of

These expressions have different meanings.

✕ He improved sales in expense of quality. ✓ He improved sales at the expense of quality.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. They cut costs ___ the expense of employee benefits.

2. The report showed a rise ___ expenses.

3. The budget includes expenses ___ equipment.

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Frequently asked questions

Is for expense correct?

Usually speakers say for expenses or use another structure such as expense for travel.

What does at the expense of mean?

It means that one thing happens while causing harm, loss, or disadvantage to another.

Can I use in with expense?

Yes, mainly in phrases such as increase in expenses or reduction in expenses.

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