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Prepositions with medicine

“Of medicine” or “in medicine”

In medicine usually refers to the medical field or profession. Of medicine appears in noun phrases such as history of medicine or practice of medicine.

Quick answer

How are these phrases different?

Use in medicine when talking about the field, profession, or area of study. Use of medicine after another noun, such as history of medicine, use of medicine, or doctor of medicine. They are not interchangeable.

Artificial intelligence is changing research in medicine.
She studies the history of medicine at university.
The ethical use of medicine is widely debated.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
in medicine

Talking about the medical field

Use in medicine to refer to work, research, or developments in the medical profession.

New imaging methods in medicine improve diagnosis.
2
history of medicine

Naming an academic subject or topic

Use of medicine after nouns that describe areas, branches, or aspects.

He teaches the history of medicine.
3
practice of medicine

Referring to the profession

This fixed phrase describes medical work as a profession or activity.

The law regulates the practice of medicine in the country.
4
medicine for + condition

Naming treatment purpose

Use for when medicine means a drug or treatment.

She needs medicine for a sore throat.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
in medicine
Machine learning is widely used in medicine.
Within the medical field or profession.
of medicine
The museum explores the history of medicine.
Part of a noun phrase about medicine.
practice of medicine
The licence allows the practice of medicine.
Medical work as a profession.
medicine for
This medicine for coughs is effective.
Treatment for a condition.

Common mistakes

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

Using of medicine instead of in medicine

Use in medicine for the professional field.

✕ Technology of medicine is advancing quickly. ✓ Technology in medicine is advancing quickly.

Using in medicine after topic nouns

Many academic topic nouns take of medicine.

✕ She studies the history in medicine. ✓ She studies the history of medicine.

Confusing medicine the field with medicine the drug

The meaning changes the preposition.

✕ He bought in medicine for a cold. ✓ He bought medicine for a cold.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Robotics is becoming more important ___ medicine.
2. She wrote a book about the history ___ medicine.
3. The doctor prescribed medicine ___ the infection.

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Frequently asked questions

What does “in medicine” mean?

It means within the field or profession of medicine.

When is “of medicine” correct?

It is correct after many nouns, such as history of medicine, use of medicine, or doctor of medicine.

Can “medicine” mean both a field and a drug?

Yes. The meaning depends on context, and the preposition often changes with the meaning.

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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