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Prepositions with nouns

“Of heart” or “at heart”?

At heart is the standard English expression for someone’s true character. Of heart appears only in special phrases such as kind of heart or pure of heart.

Quick answer

Use “at heart” for true character

At heart means “in reality” or “in one’s true nature.” The phrase of heart is not normally used alone in modern English, but it appears in expressions such as kind of heart, faint of heart, or pure of heart.

She is a teacher at heart.
He remains an artist at heart.
They are pure of heart.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
at heart

Describing someone’s true nature

Use at heart to describe what a person is really like inside.

Despite his job in finance, he is a musician at heart.
2
kind of heart

Describing emotional character

Use of heart in fixed descriptive phrases with an adjective before it.

She is generous and kind of heart.
3
pure of heart

Moral or emotional purity

Pure of heart is a literary or formal expression.

The story praises those who are pure of heart.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
at heart
He is an engineer at heart.
someone’s true nature or identity
of heart
The phrase alone is not standard in modern English.
usually appears only in fixed expressions with an adjective
kind of heart
She was gentle and kind of heart.
having a kind character
faint of heart
This film is not for the faint of heart.
easily frightened or weak emotionally

Common mistakes

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

Using “of heart” alone

Of heart usually needs an adjective before it.

✕ He is of heart ✓ He is kind of heart

Confusing “at heart” with physical location

At heart refers to true character, not a place.

✓ She is a scientist at heart

Using “in heart” instead of “at heart”

In heart is not the normal idiom for true nature.

✕ He is a writer in heart ✓ He is a writer at heart

Overusing literary “of heart” phrases

Expressions like pure of heart are formal or literary.

✓ She is kind-hearted

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Despite his business career, he is an artist ___ heart.
2. The hero is brave and pure ___ heart.
3. This experience is not for the faint ___ heart.

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Frequently asked questions

Is “of heart” correct English?

Not usually by itself. It mainly appears in fixed phrases such as pure of heart or faint of heart.

What does “at heart” mean?

It means in reality or in someone’s true character.

Can I say “good of heart”?

It is understandable but uncommon. Kind-hearted or kind of heart sounds more natural.

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