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Prepositions with nouns

“Of housing” or “for housing”?

Both combinations are possible, but they have different grammar. For housing often shows purpose, while of housing usually follows another noun.

Quick answer

How are these phrases used?

Use for housing when something is intended to provide homes. Use of housing after another noun, such as shortage of housing or cost of housing.

The city approved land for housing development.
There is a severe shortage of housing in the region.
The cost of housing has increased.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
for housing

Purpose or intended use

For housing explains why land, money, or policies are used.

The area was reserved for housing projects.
2
shortage of housing

Amount or availability

Of follows nouns that describe quantity or condition.

Officials warned about a shortage of housing.
3
cost of housing

Topic measured or discussed

Use of after nouns like cost, demand, or supply.

The cost of housing affects young families.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
for housing
The budget includes funds for housing.
Intended to provide homes or accommodation.
of housing
The demand of housing is unnatural; use demand for housing.
Usually appears after another noun such as shortage or cost.
demand for housing
There is strong demand for housing.
Need or desire for homes.

Common mistakes

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

Using of housing after demand

Demand normally takes for, not of.

✕ the demand of housing ✓ the demand for housing

Using for housing after measurement nouns

Nouns like cost or shortage usually take of.

✕ the cost for housing ✓ the cost of housing

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The government set aside land ___
2. There is a serious shortage ___ in the city.
3. We discussed the rising cost ___

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Frequently asked questions

Is for housing common?

Yes. It is widely used for land, policy, money, or projects intended to provide homes.

Can of housing be correct?

Yes, after another noun such as shortage, cost, or supply.

Which preposition follows demand?

Demand usually takes for: demand for housing.

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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