Sign In Get Started
Prepositions with nouns

How to use prepositions with moment

Moment appears in several common expressions with different meanings related to time and experience.

Quick answer

Common combinations with moment

Use moment of for a specific experience, at the moment for the present time, in a moment for a short future time, and by the moment only in limited contexts. Moment to appears in expressions like a moment to think.

It was a moment of silence.
I am busy at the moment.
She will be here in a moment.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
moment of + feeling/event

Describing a specific experience

Use moment of before emotions, silence, truth, or change.

We shared a moment of relief.
2
at the moment

Talking about the present time

At the moment means now or currently.

He is unavailable at the moment.
3
in a moment

Talking about the near future

In a moment means very soon.

I will join you in a moment.
4
moment to + verb

Giving time for an action

Use moment to before infinitives.

She needed a moment to think.
5
by the moment

Limited literary use

By the moment is rare and usually replaced by by the time or moment by moment.

The tension grew moment by moment.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
moment of
It was a moment of joy.
a specific emotional or important experience
at the moment
She is working at the moment.
currently
in a moment
I will call you in a moment.
very soon
moment to
Take a moment to relax.
time for an action
by the moment
By the moment is uncommon in modern English.
generally avoided as a fixed phrase

Common mistakes

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

Confusing at the moment and in a moment

One means now; the other means soon.

✕ I am coming at the moment ✓ I am coming in a moment

Using by moment

English normally uses moment by moment or by the time.

✕ Things changed by moment ✓ Things changed moment by moment

Leaving out the article

Many expressions require a or the.

✕ in moment ✓ in a moment

Using moment of with verbs

Moment of is followed by nouns, not verbs.

✕ a moment of decide ✓ a moment to decide

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. I will answer your email ___ a moment.
2. They shared a moment ___ silence.
3. She is busy ___ the moment.

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

What does at the moment mean?

It means now or currently.

Is in a moment future time?

Yes. It refers to the near future.

Can I say by the moment?

It is rare. Most speakers use by the time or moment by moment instead.

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