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Prepositions with nouns

“Of pride” or “with pride”?

With pride is the standard expression for doing something proudly. Of pride is mainly used inside noun phrases such as a feeling of pride.

Quick answer

Which form is correct?

Use with pride when describing the manner of an action: She spoke with pride. Use of pride when pride is the noun being described: a sense of pride.

The team accepted the award with pride.
She felt a deep sense of pride.
He watched his daughter perform with pride.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
with pride

Showing the manner or emotion behind an action

With pride describes how someone speaks, acts, or feels during an action.

They raised the flag with pride.
She introduced her son with pride.
2
sense of pride

Naming the emotion itself

Of pride commonly follows nouns such as sense, feeling, or source.

Winning gave her a strong sense of pride.
The project became a source of pride for the town.
3
proud of

Using the adjective instead of the noun

English often uses proud of rather than a noun phrase with pride.

I am proud of my students.
They were proud of their work.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
with pride
She spoke with pride at the ceremony.
Correct for describing how someone acts or speaks.
of pride
He felt a sense of pride after graduation.
Correct inside noun phrases that name the emotion.
full of pride
The parents were full of pride.
Correct for describing a strong emotional state.
in pride
She walked in pride.
Possible but literary and uncommon in modern everyday English.

Common mistakes

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

Using of pride after action verbs

After verbs like speak, smile, or watch, English normally uses with pride.

✕ She smiled of pride. ✓ She smiled with pride.

Confusing pride with proud

Pride is a noun. Proud is an adjective.

✕ She was pride of her team. ✓ She was proud of her team.

Using with pride after nouns that need of

Some nouns naturally take of pride.

✕ He felt a sense with pride. ✓ He felt a sense of pride.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The athletes carried the trophy ___ pride.
2. Graduation filled her with a sense ___ pride.
3. They were proud ___ their achievements.

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Frequently asked questions

Is with pride always correct?

It is correct when describing how someone does something, such as speaking or smiling.

Can I say of pride?

Yes, but usually inside a larger noun phrase like a feeling of pride or a source of pride.

What is more common: pride or proud?

Both are common, but English often prefers the adjective proud of after people and achievements.

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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