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Prepositions with nouns

Using prepositions with reaction

Reaction is commonly followed by to. The phrase in reaction to means as a response to something. Of reaction is generally not a natural standalone combination.

Quick answer

Which form is correct?

Use reaction to for the thing that causes a response, and in reaction to when describing an action done as a response. Of reaction is uncommon and usually appears only inside longer technical phrases.

Her silence was a reaction to the criticism.
The company changed its policy in reaction to customer complaints.
His angry email was a reaction to the delay.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
reaction to + cause

Naming what caused the response

Reaction is normally followed by to when you mention the event, action, or idea that produced the response.

Public reaction to the announcement was mixed.
Her reaction to the joke surprised everyone.
2
in reaction to + event

Describing an action done as a response

Use in reaction to before the thing that triggered another action or decision.

Prices increased in reaction to rising demand.
He spoke quickly in reaction to the accusation.
3
chain reaction

Fixed expressions with reaction

Some expressions use reaction without another preposition.

The explosion caused a chain reaction in the factory.
One error created a chain reaction of delays.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
reaction to
Her reaction to the news was calm.
The normal way to identify the cause of a response.
in reaction to
They closed the road in reaction to the storm.
Shows that an action happened as a response.
of reaction
The chemistry textbook discusses rates of reaction.
Possible in technical noun phrases, but not a general alternative to reaction to.

Common mistakes

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

Using of instead of to after reaction

Reaction normally takes to when naming the cause.

✕ His reaction of the comment was rude. ✓ His reaction to the comment was rude.

Confusing reaction to with in reaction to

Reaction to names the response itself. In reaction to describes why another action happened.

✓ The protest began in reaction to the decision.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Her reaction ___ the proposal was positive.
2. The rules changed ___ reaction to safety concerns.
3. The scientist measured the rate ___ reaction.

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Frequently asked questions

Is of reaction correct English?

Usually no in everyday English. Most contexts use reaction to. Of reaction mainly appears in technical phrases such as rate of reaction.

What does in reaction to mean?

It means as a response to something that happened.

Can reaction be used without a preposition?

Yes. Some fixed expressions such as chain reaction do not need another preposition.

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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