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Prepositions with nouns

“Of wing” or “with wing” ?

“With wing” can describe something that has a wing or wing-like feature. “Of wing” is not a normal modern combination except in poetic or technical wording.

Quick answer

Which form is correct?

Use “with wing” when describing something that has wings or a wing. “Of wing” is rare and mostly literary or highly specialised.

The insect emerged with wings fully developed.
A statue with one wing stood in the garden.
The myth speaks of winged creatures from the mountains.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
with wing + feature

Describing possession of a wing

Use “with” to show that something has a wing or wings.

The aircraft was designed with swept wings.
They found a bird with an injured wing.
2
wing of + noun

Showing a part or section

Use “wing of” when wing means a section or side of a building or organisation.

She works in the east wing of the hospital.
The reformist wing of the party opposed the plan.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
with wing
A horse with wings appears in the painting.
having a wing or wings
of wing
The phrase “of wing” sounds poetic or incomplete in modern English.
rare literary wording, not a common pattern
wing of
The west wing of the museum is closed.
a section or division
on the wing
The birds feed on the wing.
while flying

Common mistakes

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

Using “of wing” as a normal description

Modern English usually prefers “with wings” or “winged”.

✕ a creature of wing ✓ a winged creature

Forgetting the article with singular count nouns

Singular countable uses of “wing” normally need an article.

✕ with damaged wing ✓ with a damaged wing

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The sculpture shows a lion ___ wings.
2. The south ___ the building contains the offices.
3. Which phrase is uncommon in modern everyday English?

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Frequently asked questions

Is “of wing” grammatically wrong?

Not completely, but it is very uncommon and usually sounds poetic or unfinished in modern English.

Can I say “with wing” in the singular?

Yes, especially when referring to one damaged or visible wing: “a bird with one wing”.

What is a common alternative to “of wing”?

Writers usually use “with wings” or the adjective “winged” instead.

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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