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Prepositions before nouns

Which prepositions go with “credit”?

Credit combines with different prepositions depending on meaning. Common patterns include credit for, credit in, and on credit.

Quick answer

Common prepositions with “credit”

Use credit for to show praise or responsibility, credit in for academic subjects, and on credit for buying without immediate payment. Credit by is uncommon as a fixed phrase, while credit of appears in formal financial or institutional contexts.

She received credit for the idea.
He earned credit in mathematics.
We bought the sofa on credit.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
credit for + achievement

Giving praise or responsibility

Use for when someone deserves recognition or blame.

The engineer got credit for the design.
She deserves credit for her hard work.
2
credit in + subject

Academic credit in a course

Use in for school or university subjects.

Students can earn credit in biology.
He received extra credit in history.
3
on credit

Buying now and paying later

Use on credit for purchases paid for over time.

They bought the car on credit.
Many customers shop on credit during holidays.
4
credit of + institution/person

Formal financial or reputational meaning

Use of mainly in formal expressions such as to the credit of someone or in financial language.

The success is to the credit of the whole team.
Funds were transferred to the credit of the account.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
credit of
The achievement is to the credit of the staff.
Formal expression showing praise or financial record.
credit on
The store offers furniture on credit.
On credit means payment is delayed.
credit for
She took credit for the discovery.
Shows praise, responsibility, or recognition.
credit in
He earned credit in chemistry.
Refers to academic subjects or areas of study.
credit by
Payment by credit card is common.
By usually belongs to another phrase such as by credit card, not directly to credit alone.

Common mistakes

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

Using “by credit” instead of “by credit card”

By credit is incomplete in standard English.

✕ pay by credit ✓ pay by credit card

Confusing “for” and “of”

Credit for is the normal way to give recognition.

✕ credit of the idea ✓ credit for the idea

Using “on credit” for academic meaning

On credit relates to payment, not school results.

✕ on credit in biology ✓ credit in biology

Using “in” for praise

Use for when talking about recognition or responsibility.

✕ credit in the project ✓ credit for the project

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She deserves credit ___ the successful campaign.
2. The students earned credit ___ physics.
3. They bought the appliances ___ credit.

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Frequently asked questions

What does “on credit” mean?

It means you receive goods now and pay later, often in instalments.

Is “credit by” correct?

Usually no as a fixed phrase. English normally uses by credit card or credit for something.

Can “credit of” be used in everyday English?

It is mostly formal or financial, though expressions like to the credit of someone are still common.

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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