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Prepositions with eye

Of eye, with eye, or to eye?

To eye mainly appears in the fixed expression eye to eye. With eye is uncommon alone but appears in phrases like with an eye to. Of eye is usually part of a longer phrase such as color of the eye.

Quick answer

Which combinations are natural?

Use eye to eye to mean “in agreement.” Use with an eye to when talking about purpose or intention. Of the eye is possible in medical or descriptive phrases, but of eye alone is not standard.

They finally saw eye to eye on the budget.
The campaign was designed with an eye to future growth.
The doctor examined the surface of the eye carefully.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
eye to eye

Expressing agreement

Use eye to eye after verbs such as see or be.

We do not see eye to eye on politics.
The partners were finally eye to eye about the plan.
2
with an eye to + noun/verb

Showing purpose or intention

Use this phrase to explain an intended result.

She invested with an eye to long-term profit.
They redesigned the office with an eye to improving safety.
3
of the eye

Describing a part or condition

Use of the eye in medical or descriptive contexts.

The scan revealed damage of the eye tissue.
Doctors treat diseases of the eye and ear.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
of eye
Nonstandard alone; use of the eye instead.
usually needs an article or another noun
with eye
Uncommon alone; more natural in with an eye to.
used in purpose expressions
to eye
Used mainly in eye to eye.
part of a fixed idiom about agreement
eye to eye
They see eye to eye on education.
to agree fully

Common mistakes

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

Using to eye without the full idiom

English normally uses eye to eye, not to eye by itself.

✕ They see to eye on most issues. ✓ They see eye to eye on most issues.

Leaving out the article in of the eye

Eye usually needs an article in this structure.

✕ The muscles of eye were damaged. ✓ The muscles of the eye were damaged.

Using with eye instead of with an eye to

The full phrase is needed for purpose.

✕ He saved money with eye retirement. ✓ He saved money with an eye to retirement.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The two managers do not see ___ on pricing.
2. She planned the redesign ___ accessibility.
3. The surgeon examined the nerves ___

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Frequently asked questions

What does eye to eye mean?

It means to agree or share the same opinion.

Can I say with eye?

Usually no. English more commonly uses with an eye to in this meaning.

Is of eye correct?

Not normally by itself. Use of the eye or another fuller phrase.

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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