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Prepositions with nouns

Of, with, to, in, or after operating?

Operating is often a gerund or adjective in English. Different prepositions appear in different structures, but some combinations are much more natural than others.

Quick answer

Common combinations with operating

Use in operating after words about skill or participation. Use after operating for time relationships. Use with operating mainly when operating is an adjective, as in problems with operating systems. Of operating and to operating are uncommon and usually depend on another noun or verb.

She has experience in operating heavy machinery.
He felt tired after operating for six hours.
problems with operating costs

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
in operating + object

Talking about skill or activity

Use in operating after nouns and adjectives related to experience, success, or involvement.

training in operating drones
They specialise in operating small hotels.
2
after operating

Describing time after an activity

Use after operating to show what happens following the activity.

The patient rested after operating hours ended.
He washed his hands after operating the machine.
3
with operating + noun

Using operating as an adjective

With operating is natural when operating modifies another noun, especially in business or technical contexts.

issues with operating costs
changes with operating procedures

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
in operating
She is skilled in operating cranes.
Shows ability or involvement in the activity.
after operating
The surgeon rested after operating all day.
Shows a time relationship.
with operating
The company struggles with operating expenses.
Operating describes another noun such as expenses or systems.
of operating
the risks of operating without insurance
Possible when operating is linked to another noun such as risks or costs.
to operating
They objected to operating the factory at night.
To belongs to the verb objected, not directly to operating.

Common mistakes

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

Using to operating after skilled

Skilled normally takes in before a gerund.

✕ She is skilled to operating machinery. ✓ She is skilled in operating machinery.

Treating operating as a standalone noun with with

With operating alone is usually incomplete.

✕ We had problems with operating. ✓ We had problems with operating costs.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. He has experience ___ operating farm equipment.
2. She felt exhausted ___ operating for ten hours.
3. The company is dealing with high ___ costs.

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Frequently asked questions

Is to operating correct?

It can appear when to belongs to another word, such as objected to operating late.

Can I use with operating alone?

Usually no. Operating commonly modifies another noun, such as operating system or operating costs.

What is the most common pattern?

In operating is widely used for skill and activity contexts.

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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