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Prepositions before nouns

“Of scientist” vs. “by scientist”

“By scientist” and “of scientist” are usually incomplete on their own. The surrounding grammar matters.

Quick answer

Using prepositions with “scientist”

Use “by a scientist” to show authorship or action. “Of scientist” is generally nonstandard unless “scientist” has a determiner and follows another noun, such as “the work of the scientist.”

The report was written by a scientist from Brazil.
We studied the discoveries of the scientist in class.
The experiment was designed by scientists at the university.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
by a scientist

Authorship or agency

Use “by” to show who performed an action or created something.

The article was published by a scientist last year.
2
of the scientist

Possession or relation

Use “of” after another noun to show connection to a specific scientist.

The notebooks of the scientist were discovered recently.
3
scientist at + place

Professional affiliation

Use “at” for a scientist’s institution or workplace.

She is a scientist at the institute in Geneva.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
by scientist
The device was invented by a scientist.
shows the person who performed the action
of scientist
the biography of the scientist
shows relation to a specific scientist within a larger noun phrase
scientist from
a scientist from India
shows origin or nationality

Common mistakes

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

Using bare “of scientist”

English normally needs an article or determiner here.

✕ the work of scientist ✓ the work of the scientist

Omitting the article after “by”

Singular countable nouns usually need an article.

✕ written by scientist ✓ written by a scientist

Using “by” for possession

“By” shows agency, not ownership.

✕ the notes by the scientist were lost ✓ the notes of the scientist were lost

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The paper was written ___ a scientist from Canada.
2. We examined the journals ___ the scientist.
3. She is a scientist ___ a major research centre.

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Frequently asked questions

Is “by scientist” correct without an article?

Usually no. Singular countable nouns normally need an article: “by a scientist.”

Can “of scientist” stand alone?

Not naturally. English usually requires “of the scientist” or another determiner.

What preposition is common after “scientist”?

Common combinations include “scientist at,” “scientist from,” and “scientist in.”

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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