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Prepositions with nouns

Of fiction or in fiction?

In fiction is the standard phrase when talking about events, characters, or ideas inside fictional works. Of fiction is uncommon except in fixed expressions such as works of fiction.

Quick answer

Which phrase is correct?

Use in fiction for something that appears inside fictional stories: vampires in fiction. Use fiction about for topic meaning. Of fiction is rare by itself, but natural in expressions such as a work of fiction.

Dragons often appear in fiction.
She studies fiction about war.
The book is a work of fiction.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
in fiction

Talking about something inside fictional stories

Use in fiction for themes, characters, events, or behaviour that appear in novels, films, and other fictional works.

Detectives are common in fiction.
Time travel rarely works logically in fiction.
2
fiction about + topic

Giving the subject of fictional writing

Use about after fiction to introduce the topic or theme.

He enjoys fiction about space exploration.
The course covers fiction about migration.
3
work of fiction

Classifying something as fictional

Of fiction appears naturally in fixed noun phrases such as work of fiction or piece of fiction.

The film is a work of fiction.
Readers assumed the diary was a piece of fiction.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
in fiction
Artificial intelligence is often dangerous in fiction.
inside fictional stories or media
of fiction
The novel is clearly a work of fiction.
part of a fixed expression describing something fictional
fiction about
She writes fiction about rural life.
fiction whose topic is something
fictional
The town is fictional.
adjective form, often more natural than of fiction

Common mistakes

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

Using of fiction as a general replacement for in fiction

Of fiction is not normally used to mean inside fictional stories.

✕ Ghosts are common of fiction. ✓ Ghosts are common in fiction.

Omitting about after fiction

Use about to introduce the subject matter.

✕ He reads fiction history. ✓ He reads fiction about history.

Confusing fictional with fiction

Use fictional as an adjective before nouns.

✕ a fiction character ✓ a fictional character

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Robots are often dangerous ___ fiction.
2. The memoir later turned out to be a work ___ fiction.
3. She prefers fiction ___ climate change.

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Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

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Frequently asked questions

Is of fiction ever correct?

Yes. It is natural in fixed expressions such as work of fiction and piece of fiction.

Can I say in fictional stories instead of in fiction?

Yes. In fictional stories is more specific, while in fiction is broader.

What is the difference between fiction and fictional?

Fiction is a noun. Fictional is an adjective used before another noun, such as fictional world.

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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