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Prepositions before nouns

“Of teaching” or “in teaching”?

In teaching is common for activities or experience within the field of teaching. Of teaching usually follows another noun, such as methods of teaching.

Quick answer

Which form should you use?

Use in teaching to talk about experience, methods used within education, or situations in the classroom. Use of teaching after another noun to describe a type, method, or aspect of teaching.

She has ten years of experience in teaching.
We studied different methods of teaching reading.
Technology plays a major role in teaching today.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
in teaching

Experience or activity in education

Use in teaching for work, practice, or situations within the teaching profession.

He specializes in teaching young learners.
2
methods of teaching

Types or systems of instruction

Use of teaching after nouns such as method, style, or philosophy.

The course compares several methods of teaching languages.
3
role in teaching

Function within education

Use in teaching after nouns like role, value, or success.

Feedback has an important role in teaching writing skills.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
in teaching
She is interested in teaching online.
Connected to work or activity in education.
of teaching
The history of teaching is complex.
Teaching is the topic or object of another noun.
methods of teaching
They discussed modern methods of teaching.
Specific systems or approaches used for teaching.

Common mistakes

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

Using of teaching without a head noun

Of teaching normally follows another noun.

✕ She has experience of teaching children. ✓ She has experience in teaching children.

Using in for description nouns

Use of after nouns like method or style.

✕ methods in teaching ✓ methods of teaching

Confusing profession and topic

In teaching refers to activity; of teaching refers to description or analysis.

✕ the challenges in teaching methods ✓ the challenges of teaching methods

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. He has worked ___ teaching for fifteen years.
2. The book examines theories ___ teaching.
3. Technology is widely used ___ teaching science.

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Frequently asked questions

Is experience in teaching correct?

Yes. It is a common way to describe teaching experience.

Can I say methods in teaching?

Sometimes, but methods of teaching is more standard when referring to teaching approaches.

Why is of teaching sometimes correct?

It is correct after another noun, such as theory, philosophy, or history.

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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