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Prepositions with nouns

Of trip or on trip?

On a trip is the standard expression for travelling. Of trip is uncommon except inside larger noun phrases such as the cost of the trip.

Quick answer

Which preposition is correct with trip?

Use on a trip to describe travelling or being away from home. Use of the trip in longer noun phrases such as the purpose of the trip or the end of the trip. The phrase of trip alone is not standard.

She is on a trip to Italy this week.
We met many people on our trip across Canada.
The purpose of the trip was educational.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
on a trip

Travelling or visiting somewhere

Use on a trip when someone is travelling.

They are on a trip around South America.
I took hundreds of photos on the trip.
2
trip to + place

Destination

Use trip to to name the destination.

We booked a trip to Greece for August.
Her trip to Nairobi lasted five days.
3
purpose of the trip

Reason or feature of the journey

Use of the trip in descriptive noun phrases.

The purpose of the trip was business.
Everyone enjoyed the final day of the trip.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
on a trip
He is on a trip to Mexico.
travelling or away from home
of the trip
The cost of the trip was high.
describing an aspect of the journey
trip to
They planned a trip to Seoul.
journey toward a destination
trip with
We went on a trip with colleagues.
companions during the journey

Common mistakes

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

Using of trip alone

Use of the trip inside a complete noun phrase.

✕ The details of trip are secret. ✓ The details of the trip are secret.

Omitting the article after on

On trip is not standard in normal English.

✕ She is on trip this week. ✓ She is on a trip this week.

Confusing on a trip and trip to

On a trip describes the state of travelling, while trip to names the destination.

✕ He is trip to Spain. ✓ He is on a trip to Spain.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. They are currently ___ a trip in Asia.
2. The purpose ___ the trip was research.
3. We are planning a trip ___ Peru.

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Frequently asked questions

Is on trip correct?

In standard English, use on a trip or on the trip. The article is normally required.

When do we use of the trip?

Use it in phrases such as the cost of the trip or the purpose of the trip.

What preposition follows trip for destinations?

Trip is commonly followed by to before a place name.

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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