Sign In Get Started
Prepositions with initiative

How to use prepositions with initiative

Initiative commonly appears with for, on, and from in specific meanings. Some combinations are uncommon or depend on a larger phrase.

Quick answer

Common prepositions with initiative

Use initiative for a purpose or project, on your own initiative for independent action, and initiative from when naming the source of an action. Initiative of usually appears in longer noun phrases such as a sign of initiative. Initiative with is uncommon as a direct combination.

The company launched an initiative for rural schools.
She contacted the client on her own initiative.
The proposal came from an initiative started by students.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
initiative for + goal

Showing the purpose of an initiative

Use for to state what the initiative is intended to support or improve.

They announced an initiative for clean energy.
The city created an initiative for young entrepreneurs.
2
on + possessive + own initiative

Describing independent action

This fixed expression means someone acted without being told.

He applied on his own initiative.
The team revised the report on their own initiative.
3
initiative from + source

Naming where an initiative comes from

Use from to identify the person or group that started something.

The idea grew from an initiative by local teachers.
Funding came from an initiative led by volunteers.
4
initiative of + noun

Using initiative in descriptive noun phrases

Initiative of is usually part of a larger structure such as an act of initiative or a sign of initiative.

Her decision was a sign of initiative.
The manager praised this display of initiative.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
initiative for
The charity launched an initiative for safer roads.
Standard when giving the purpose or target of the initiative.
on your own initiative
She changed the schedule on her own initiative.
Standard fixed phrase meaning independently.
initiative from
The reform began from an initiative by students.
Used to show the origin or source.
initiative with
The initiative with local banks reduced fees.
Here with introduces a partner, not a fixed combination selected by initiative.
initiative on
The government announced an initiative on digital privacy.
Standard when naming the topic of the initiative.

Common mistakes

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

Using with as the main preposition after initiative

Initiative with is not usually the core pattern. Use for or on when expressing purpose or topic.

✕ an initiative with recycling ✓ an initiative for recycling

Confusing on initiative with on your own initiative

The expression normally includes a possessive determiner and own.

✕ She acted on initiative. ✓ She acted on her own initiative.

Using of for purpose

Of does not normally express the aim of an initiative.

✕ an initiative of public health ✓ an initiative for public health

Using from instead of by for agents

From can show origin, but by is often better for the active organizer.

✕ an initiative from the ministry ✓ an initiative by the ministry

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The university started an initiative ___ affordable housing.
2. She solved the problem on her own ___.
3. The campaign began from an initiative ___ local parents.

Check your sentence in context

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

Free to try · No signup required

Frequently asked questions

Can I say initiative on a topic?

Yes. Initiative on is common when naming a subject, such as an initiative on climate policy.

Is initiative with correct?

It can be correct when with introduces a partner or accompanying detail, but it is not the usual core pattern after initiative.

What does on your own initiative mean?

It means you acted independently, without being instructed.

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"?

Write with confidence in Linguix

Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.

Create a free account