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Prepositions with nouns

On foot or of foot?

Use on foot to mean walking. Of foot is not a normal travel expression and appears only in special noun phrases.

Quick answer

Which expression is correct?

On foot is the standard idiom meaning walking rather than using transport. Of foot is only used inside longer phrases such as the size of the foot.

We explored the old town on foot.
The village is easiest to reach on foot.
The shape of the foot changed over time.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
on foot

Travelling by walking

Use on foot to describe movement by walking.

They travelled on foot through the forest.
I prefer going on foot in the city centre.
2
go on foot

Choosing to walk somewhere

Go on foot is a common travel expression.

We decided to go on foot instead of taking a taxi.
Students often come on foot from nearby streets.
3
of the foot

Describing a body part

Use of the foot when foot belongs to another noun phrase.

The muscles of the foot are complex.
Pain in the arch of the foot can affect walking.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
on foot
She came on foot.
Correct idiom meaning walking.
of foot
Incorrect: We travelled of foot.
Not a standard travel expression.
of the foot
The bones of the foot were examined.
Correct possessive or descriptive phrase.
by foot
The route can be explored by foot.
Used occasionally, but on foot is more natural in everyday English.

Common mistakes

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

Using of foot for transport

English uses on foot, not of foot, for walking.

✕ He arrived of foot. ✓ He arrived on foot.

Using by foot in everyday conversation

By foot exists but sounds less natural than on foot in most contexts.

✕ I went by foot to work. ✓ I went on foot to work.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. We explored the market ___ foot.
2. The muscles ___ the foot were injured.
3. They travelled ___ foot across the island.

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Frequently asked questions

Is on foot an idiom?

Yes. It is a fixed expression meaning travelling by walking.

Can I say by foot?

You can, but on foot is more natural in most everyday situations.

Why is of foot uncommon?

Because of does not normally express means of travel with foot.

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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