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Prepositions with nouns

On strike or of strike?

The fixed expression is on strike. The phrase of strike is not standard in modern English for this meaning.

Quick answer

Correct expression

Use on strike to describe workers who have stopped working as a protest. Do not use of strike for this meaning.

The teachers are on strike this week.
Rail workers went on strike over pay disputes.
Thousands remained on strike for two days.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
on strike

Describing workers who stop working in protest

On strike is a fixed expression used for labour protests.

The factory staff are on strike again.
Nurses voted to go on strike next month.
2
go on strike

Starting a strike action

Use go on strike when talking about the beginning of a strike.

Drivers may go on strike tomorrow.
Employees decided to go on strike after negotiations failed.
3
strike over + issue

Giving the reason for a strike

Use over to introduce the cause of the strike.

Workers are on strike over pay.
The union called a strike over safety conditions.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
on strike
The airport staff are on strike.
Correct fixed expression for labour protest.
of strike
The phrase of strike is not standard in this meaning.
Incorrect or nonidiomatic combination.
go on strike
Teachers may go on strike next week.
Begin a strike action.

Common mistakes

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

Using of strike instead of on strike

English uses the fixed phrase on strike.

✕ The workers are of strike. ✓ The workers are on strike.

Missing the preposition

Strike needs on in this expression.

✕ The staff are strike today. ✓ The staff are on strike today.

Using strike for without a noun

Use strike for to show who benefits from support, not the protest itself.

✓ The campaign raised money for striking workers.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The bus drivers are ___ strike today.
2. Workers may go ___ strike next month.
3. The union announced a strike ___ pay.

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Frequently asked questions

Is of strike ever correct?

Not in the meaning of labour protest. Use on strike instead.

Can I say go on strike?

Yes. Go on strike means to begin a strike action.

What preposition follows strike when giving a reason?

Over is common: a strike over wages, a strike over working conditions.

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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