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Prepositions with nouns

How to use prepositions with disability

With disability is usually part of the phrase person with a disability. Of disability is limited to formal or descriptive contexts.

Quick answer

Which phrase is more natural?

English commonly uses with in phrases like people with disabilities. Of disability appears in more formal structures such as the degree of disability or issues of disability rights.

The building supports people with disabilities.
Doctors assessed the degree of disability after the accident.
The course covers issues of disability and inclusion.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
person with a disability

Describing someone respectfully

Use with to describe a person who has a disability.

The programme helps students with disabilities succeed at university.
2
degree of disability

Describing level or type

Of is used in formal descriptions about extent, category, or subject matter.

The report examined the degree of disability in each case.
3
issues of disability

Talking about the topic generally

Of can introduce the subject area in formal writing.

She researches social perceptions of disability in media.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
with disability
The phrase usually appears as person with a disability or people with disabilities.
Standard people-first wording.
of disability
The study examined the social impact of disability.
Formal expression about the topic or condition.
disabled person
The organisation supports disabled people.
Identity-first wording used in many contexts.

Common mistakes

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

Using with disability without a person noun

English normally says person with a disability or people with disabilities.

✕ The centre helps with disability. ✓ The centre helps people with disabilities.

Using of disability for possession

Of disability usually sounds formal and abstract, not personal.

✕ She is a student of disability. ✓ She is a student with a disability.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The school provides support for children ___ disabilities.
2. The report discussed issues ___ disability access.
3. Doctors measured the degree ___ disability.

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Frequently asked questions

Is with disability correct?

Usually the full phrase is person with a disability or people with disabilities.

When is of disability used?

It appears in formal expressions such as degree of disability or rights of disability communities.

Should I use disability or disabilities?

Disabilities is common when referring to groups of people or different conditions.

with, dignity, of, dignity "with distinction" or "of distinction"? "with emphasis" or "of emphasis"? "with friend" or "of friend"? with, of, to, between or for husband? with, of, under, for or in load? "without exception", "of exception" or "with exception"? "without notice" or "of notice"? "without warning" or "of warning"? without, with, of, in or as regard? "with partner" or "of partner"? "with smile" or "of smile"?

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