Do I use “for” or “of” or “to?”

prepositionsusage

Which sentence should I use?

I learned about the techniques of creating an AD.

I learned about the techniques for creating an AD.

I learned about the techniques to create an AD.

Best Answer

In general, use "for" (and sometimes "to") when you want to talk about a sense of direction or purpose. For example: I am going home for dinner (to eat). I am driving slowly for safety (to be safe). I am watching for trouble.

By contrast, use "of" when you want to talk about a sense of belonging or ownership. For example: I watch the edge of the road. I see the outline of the trees. I don't stare at the lights of the oncoming traffic.

In your case, I think that "for" is more appropriate, because I think that the techniques have a purpose which is creating an AD, more than I think the techniques belong to the creation process. However, this is a subtle issue and I wouldn't be surprised if people disagree with me. On balance, I don't think you will surprise many people whichever word you use.

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