Prepositions with recession

Into recession or of recession?

English commonly uses into recession to describe movement into an economic downturn. Of recession usually appears inside a longer noun phrase such as fear of recession.

Quick answer

Which form is correct?

Use into recession after verbs such as fall, slide, or go when describing an economy entering a recession. Of recession is not normally used directly after a verb, but it is natural in noun phrases like signs of recession or risk of recession.

The country slipped into recession last year.
Investors worried about signs of recession in the market.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
into recession

Describing economic decline

Use into recession after movement verbs to show that an economy has entered a recession.

Several industries moved into recession after the crisis.
The economy may fall into recession next quarter.
2
of recession

Showing relation to recession

Use of recession after nouns that describe fear, risk, signs, or effects.

There is growing fear of recession among investors.
Analysts discussed the impact of recession on jobs.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
into recession
The economy went into recession in April.
entering a recession
of recession
They discussed the causes of recession.
showing a relationship to recession
in recession
The country is in recession.
already experiencing a recession

Common mistakes

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

Using of recession after movement verbs

After verbs like go or fall, English uses into recession.

✕ The economy went of recession. ✓ The economy went into recession.

Confusing into recession with in recession

Into recession describes change; in recession describes the current state.

✕ The country is into recession. ✓ The country is in recession.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The economy slipped ___ recession after exports fell.
2. Many people feared a period ___ recession.
3. The country has been ___ recession since January.

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

Can I say go into recession?

Yes. Go into recession is a common expression for an economy beginning a recession.

Is of recession wrong?

No. It is natural in phrases such as effects of recession or threat of recession.

What is the difference between into recession and in recession?

Into recession focuses on the change into that state, while in recession describes the current condition.

Write with confidence in Linguix

Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.

Create a free account