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Prepositions with nouns

of, for, to, in or per household?

Different prepositions with household express membership, purpose, quantity, or rates. Per household is especially common in statistics.

Quick answer

Common combinations with household

Use in a household for members or activities inside a home, for a household for purpose, and per household for rates or averages. Of household is uncommon without another noun.

There are five people in the household.
The grant is for low-income households.
Average spending per household increased this year.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
in a household

People or activity inside a home

Use in with household to describe members, conditions, or actions within a home.

Smoking is not allowed in our household.
2
for a household

Purpose or benefit

For shows that something is intended for a household.

They designed a budget plan for large households.
3
per household

Rates and statistics

Per household is common in reports and data.

Water use per household fell last year.
4
household of + number

Size or composition

Of can appear after household to describe the number of members.

They are a household of six.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
in a household
Three generations live in the household.
Inside a home or family unit.
for a household
This appliance is ideal for a small household.
Intended for a home or family.
per household
The limit is two devices per household.
For each household.
to a household
The letter was addressed to the household.
Direction or recipient.
of household
This combination is uncommon without another noun.
Usually replaced by household of or another structure.

Common mistakes

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

Using of household alone

English normally uses household of or another fuller phrase.

✕ members of household ✓ members of the household

Confusing per household with in a household

Per household expresses a rate, not location or membership.

✕ Five people per household live there. ✓ Five people live in the household.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The survey measured electricity use ___
2. There are four children ___
3. This product is suitable ___ large households.

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Frequently asked questions

What does per household mean?

It means for each household separately, often in statistics or rules.

Is of household natural English?

Usually no. English more often uses of the household or household of.

Can household be singular for many people?

Yes. Household refers to one home unit even if many people live there.

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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