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Prepositions before nouns

'To bit' vs. 'by bit'

English uses the fixed expression bit by bit to mean gradually. To bit is not a standard combination.

Quick answer

Correct expression

Use bit by bit for gradual change or progress. English does not normally use to bit as a fixed phrase.

She recovered bit by bit.
The puzzle came together bit by bit.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
bit by bit

Showing gradual progress

This fixed phrase means little by little.

They rebuilt the house bit by bit.
2
little bit of + noun

Talking about a small amount

Use bit with of for quantity.

I need a bit of help.
3
a bit + adjective

Softening descriptions

A bit can modify adjectives in informal English.

The soup is a bit cold.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
bit by bit
The team improved bit by bit.
gradually
to bit
The dog tried to bit the toy.
This is usually a spelling error for 'bite'.
bit of
a bit of luck
a small amount
a bit
I'm a bit tired.
slightly

Common mistakes

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

Writing 'to bit' instead of 'to bite'

Bit is the past tense form of bite, not the infinitive.

✕ The puppy likes to bit shoes. ✓ The puppy likes to bite shoes.

Leaving out the repeated word

The fixed phrase is bit by bit, not by bit alone in most contexts.

✕ The project advanced by bit. ✓ The project advanced bit by bit.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. We saved money ___ by ___.
2. Choose the correct infinitive form.
3. Which sentence means 'gradually'?

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Frequently asked questions

Is 'bit by bit' informal?

It is common in both spoken and written English.

Can I say 'little by little' instead?

Yes. It has a very similar meaning.

Why is 'to bit' incorrect?

Because the infinitive form of the verb is bite, not bit.

to, amount, in, amount, of, amount "to availability" or "of availability"? "to bed" or "in bed"? "to bottom" or "at bottom"? to, by, from, with or of ear? "to charity", "for charity" or "of charity"? "to coast" or "from coast"? "to cycle" or "of cycle"? "to deal" or "of deal"? "to debut" or "on debut"? "to editor" or "of editor"? "to end" or "on end"?

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