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Preposition before noun

Disorder with prepositions

Disorder appears with several prepositions depending on meaning, especially of, in, and with.

Quick answer

Which prepositions are used with disorder?

Disorder of is common for body systems or institutions. Disorder in describes a situation or place lacking order. With disorder often describes a person affected by a condition.

a disorder of the nervous system
complete disorder in the office
children with disorder symptoms

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
disorder of + system/group

Naming the affected area

Use of for body systems, institutions, or categories.

a severe disorder of the immune system
2
disorder in + place/activity

Showing lack of order

In is used for chaotic situations or environments.

there was disorder in the streets
3
with disorder

Describing affected people

With introduces a person or thing that has a disorder.

patients with disorder symptoms

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
disorder of
It is a disorder of the digestive system.
affected category or system
disorder in
Police responded to disorder in the stadium.
chaos in a place or event
to disorder
The changes led to disorder.
to depends on another verb or noun
from disorder
He suffers from a sleep disorder.
from depends on suffers, not disorder itself
with disorder
Support is available for children with disorder symptoms.
having or accompanied by a disorder

Common mistakes

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

Using disorder to directly

To is usually linked to another word, not disorder alone.

✕ a disorder to the brain ✓ a disorder of the brain

Confusing in and of

In shows location of chaos; of shows the affected system.

✕ disorder in the immune system ✓ disorder of the immune system

Using with for the disorder itself

With normally describes the affected person.

✕ a disorder with the lungs ✓ a disorder of the lungs

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The patient has a disorder ___ the nervous system.
2. There was disorder ___ the city centre after the match.
3. She works with children ___ learning disorders.

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Frequently asked questions

What does disorder of mean?

It usually identifies the body system or category affected.

Can disorder in mean chaos?

Yes. Disorder in a place means lack of order or public disturbance.

Is with disorder common?

It is mainly used to describe people who have a disorder.

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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