There are many instances where by and with mean something completely different, but which is the correct preposition usage in the following sentences?
- A file by the same name as the original file.
- A file with the same name as the original file.
Do the two sentences above mean something different, or can they be used interchangeably? What general rules (of thumb) govern the correct usage of the prepositions by and with?
If you rewrite the sentences to
- A man by the same type of hat as the original hat.
- A man with the same type of hat as the original hat.
then they obviously don't mean the same. In the former sentence, the man is next to the hat, in the latter, he is wearing or holding it. Is the distinction between a material and immaterial object of the sentence (in this case the hat, in the former case the name) what generally governs the correct usage of by and with?
Best Answer
In the second example, the use of "by" could indicate physical proximity to a hat, whereas "with" suggests the man has the hat. In cases where there is a possible physical interpretation, it is better to use "with" (assuming you do not intend to convey that the subject is near an object). In cases where there isn't a possible physical meaning to confuse, "by" works to identify something. "By" as an indication of identity is particularly clear when you specify cases such as example one, where existence of a name is referred to. This fits into implicit phrases like "goes by" or "known by" as suggested in the comments.