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Prepositions with nouns

Of gun or with gun?

Use with a gun to show possession or use of a weapon. Of gun is not a normal standalone expression.

Quick answer

Which form is correct?

Use with a gun when someone has or uses a gun: The guard stood there with a gun. Do not use of gun as a general alternative. Use of the gun only in larger phrases such as the barrel of the gun.

The robber threatened them with a gun.
The barrel of the gun was damaged.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
with a gun

Showing possession or use

Use with a gun when someone carries, holds, or uses a gun.

Police found a man with a gun near the station.
2
at gunpoint

Describing threat or force

At gunpoint is the idiomatic phrase for being threatened with a gun.

The cashier was forced to open the safe at gunpoint.
3
part of the gun

Describing parts or features

Use of the gun in noun phrases about parts, features, or ownership.

The handle of the gun was made of wood.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
with a gun
He entered the bank with a gun.
correct for carrying or using a gun
of gun
the sound of the gun
only natural as part of a larger phrase with the gun
by gun
The animal was killed by gun.
nonstandard; use with a gun or by shooting
at gunpoint
They were held at gunpoint.
fixed expression for armed threat

Common mistakes

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

Using of gun alone

Of gun is not a natural standalone phrase in modern English.

✕ The man of gun ran away. ✓ The man with a gun ran away.

Using by gun for method

English normally uses with a gun or by shooting.

✕ He threatened her by gun. ✓ He threatened her with a gun.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The suspect was seen ___ a gun.
2. The trigger ___ the gun was broken.
3. They were held ___.

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Frequently asked questions

Is with gun correct without an article?

Usually English uses with a gun. The article may be omitted in headlines or very informal contexts.

Can of the gun be correct?

Yes. It is correct in descriptive phrases such as the barrel of the gun.

What phrase means threatened by a gun?

The standard expression is at gunpoint.

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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