Prepositional Phrases are combinations of prepositions with nouns, verbs, adjectives, or adverbs to use in specific cases. Here is a list of common Prepositional Phrases used in the workplace.
At a discount
Sold for lower price
The company is offering its software products at a discount for bulk purchases this month.
At a fraction of
Costing significantly less than something else
This new software tool costs at a fraction of the price of its competitors.
At an advantage
A beneficial position or benefit over others
Employees with advanced technical skills are at an advantage during the hiring process.
At all costs
No matter what it takes or costs to accomplish
We must complete this project at all costs, as it’s critical for our client.
At play
Being involves or having an effect on the situation
There are several factors at play in the decision-making process for the new marketing campaign.
At least
A minimum amount or level of effect
We need to finish this report by Friday at least, if not sooner.
At most
A maximum amount or level of effect
We can allocate at most three people to the project due to budget constraints.
At once
All at the same time or immediately
The team needs to address all customer complaints at once to ensure no one is overlooked.
At present
At the current moment
At present, we are focusing on improving employee training programs.
At risk of
In danger of being negatively effected
The company is at risk of losing its market share if it doesn’t innovate soon.
At the earliest
No sooner than a specified time, and perhaps after.
We can schedule the meeting next Monday at the earliest, as I’m out of town this week.
At the expense of
Sacrificing something to attain another goal or target.
The project was completed ahead of schedule, but at the expense of quality control.
At the latest
No later than a specified time, perhaps sooner.
Please submit your report by 5 PM at the latest.
At a standstill
Not progressing or moving forward
The negotiation is at a standstill after the two sides couldn’t agree on the terms.
At the time
A specific time in the past before things changed
At the time of the merger, there were many uncertainties regarding the future of the company.
At first
Initially or in the beginning, before circumstances or direction changed
At first, the team was skeptical about the new software, but now it’s indispensable.
At hand
Available at the moment, or nearby, to be accessed or used.
The manager asked for the report to be at hand in the board meeting.
At work
Engaged in creating an effect or influence.
Subtle psychological factors were at work, influencing his decision.
By all accounts
According to a shared opinion from various people and perspectives
By all accounts, the new CEO has been a great asset to the company.
By all means
Agreeing without any reservation
By all means, feel free to take a break, but be sure to meet your deadlines.
By chance
Happening randomly or unplanned
By chance, I ran into our biggest client at a networking event last week.
By coincidence
Happening at the same time by accident
By coincidence, I discovered that our competitor is launching a similar product.
By mistake
Accidentally or unintentionally
The document was sent to the wrong person by mistake, but I’ve already corrected it.
By now
Enough time has elapsed that something should have happened at this point
By now, everyone should have received the meeting invite and agenda.
By then
By a specific time in the future
The report needs to be ready by then so we can present it to the clients.
By way of
Using a certain method or route
We are sending the invoices by way of email to speed up the process.
For good
Due to the absence of something
Permanently
The new policy is in effect for good, so everyone needs to adapt accordingly.
For lack of
Due to the absence of something
The project was delayed for lack of resources and manpower.
For my part
Speaking personally
For my part, I will be handling the customer relations aspect of the campaign.
For now
Temporarily or for the moment
For now, we can proceed with the current plan, but we may need to adjust later.
For real
Genuinely or seriously
The changes are for real, and they will affect all departments starting next month.
For the time being
For now, but not necessarily permanently
For the time being, we’ll be working remotely until further notice.
For what it’s worth
Offering an opinion that may or may not be useful
For what it’s worth, I believe we should postpone the launch until next quarter.
In accordance with
Following rules or guidelines
The decision was made in accordance with company policies and procedures.
In addition to
As well as something else
In addition to my regular tasks, I’ve been assigned to lead the new initiative.
In advance
Before an expected event
Please submit your vacation requests in advance to avoid scheduling conflicts.
In agreement with
Sharing the same opinion or position
We are in agreement with the proposed changes to the company’s healthcare plan.
In all likelihood
Very probably
In all likelihood, the project will be completed ahead of schedule.
In bulk
In large quantities
We ordered the office supplies in bulk to take advantage of the discount.
In collaboration with
Working together with others
The marketing department is working in collaboration with the sales team to improve outreach.
In confidence
Privately or secretly
I shared the financial details of the project in confidence with the CFO.
In conjunction with
Together with something or someone
We are working in conjunction with the HR department to implement the new policy.
In consequence
As a result
In consequence of the new regulations, the company will be revising its strategy.
In control of
Having authority or management over something
The project manager is in control of ensuring the timeline is met.
In danger
At risk of harm or negative consequences
The company is in danger of losing its top talent due to poor employee engagement.
In decline
Decreasing in quality, popularity, or performance
Employee morale has been in decline since the recent restructuring.
In dispute
Under argument or disagreement
The terms of the contract are in dispute, and the legal team is reviewing them.
In error
Incorrectly or mistakenly
The report was submitted in error, and we have already sent the updated version.
In essence
Fundamentally or at its core
In essence, the company’s goal is to increase profitability through innovation.
In fact
Actually or in reality
In fact, our sales numbers have exceeded expectations this quarter.
In hindsight
Looking back with knowledge of what happened
In hindsight, we should have allocated more resources to the marketing campaign.
In line with
Matching or consistent with something
The new software is in line with our current business needs.
In mind
Considering or remembering something
Please keep the budget limitations in mind when planning the upcoming project.
In operation
Functioning or currently active
The new equipment is now in operation and should improve production efficiency.
In particular
Specifically
We need to focus on improving customer service responses in particular.
In person
Physically present rather than remote
The client meeting will be held in person next week in the conference room.
In practice
In real-world application
In practice, this new process will help streamline communication across teams.
In question
Being discussed or doubted
The policies in question were reviewed and revised by the legal department.
In reality
The actual situation, as opposed to perception
In reality, the project is behind schedule despite initial expectations.
In short
Summarizing briefly
In short, the company needs to address its internal communication issues.
In the absence of
When something or someone is missing
In the absence of the manager, I will be overseeing the meeting.
In the course of
During a period of time
In the course of the project, we identified several key areas for improvement.
In the event of
If something happens
In the event of an emergency, please contact HR for guidance.
In the eyes of
From someone’s perspective
In the eyes of the client, we’ve exceeded all expectations.
In the interest of
For the benefit of something
In the interest of transparency, we are providing all employees with an update on the financial status.
In the long run
Long term benefit compared to short term investment
Investing in employee training will lead to increased productivity in the long run.
In the meantime
While waiting for something else to happen
In the meantime, please continue with your current tasks until further notice.
In the process of
Currently doing or experiencing something
We are in the process of finalizing the details for the upcoming product launch.
In the way of
As an obstacle or hindrance
There’s nothing in the way of completing the project ahead of schedule.
In turn
One after another in sequence
Each department will, in turn, present their updates during quarterly review meeting.
In jeopardy
At risk of being lost or harmed
Our reputation is in jeopardy if we don’t address these customer complaints.
In no time
Very quickly
With the new system in place, the team will be able to complete tasks in no time.
In other words
Expressing something differently for clarity
In other words, the company needs to improve its customer service to stay competitive.
In particular
Specifically or especially
In particular, we need to focus on the software development team’s performance.
In question
Being discussed or doubted
The proposal in question was reviewed in detail by the board of directors.
In retrospect
Looking back with new understanding
In retrospect, we should have invested more time in research before launching the product.
In theory
Supposedly, but not necessarily in practice
In theory, this new strategy should increase efficiency, but we need to test it first.
On account of
Because of something
The meeting was rescheduled on account of the CEO’s unexpected travel.
On behalf of
Representing or speaking for someone
On behalf of the entire team, I would like to thank you for your hard work.
On principle
Based on moral beliefs
On principle, the company refuses to engage in any unfair business practices.
On schedule
Proceeding as planned
The project is on schedule, and we anticipate completing it on time.
On the brink of
Very close to happening
The company is on the brink of securing a major deal with an international client.
On the condition that
Only if a specific requirement is met
The promotion is offered on the condition that the employee completes the leadership training.
On the contrary
Opposing or contradicting a statement
On the contrary, the new software has been a great improvement in streamlining workflows.
On the lookout for
Actively searching for something
We are constantly on the lookout for ways to enhance our customer service.
On/behind schedule
On time or later than planned
The project is slightly behind schedule, but we’re confident we can catch up.
To an extent
Partially, but not completely
The new system works to an extent, but there are still some bugs to fix.
To date
Up until now
To date, our department has met all quarterly targets.
To the best of my knowledge
As far as someone knows
To the best of my knowledge, the financial reports have been submitted on time.
Under consideration
Being thought about or reviewed
The new policy changes are currently under consideration by the management team.
Under the impression that
Believing something to be true
I was under the impression that the meeting was scheduled for next week, not today.
With the exception of
Excluding something
With the exception of a few minor issues, the project has been a success.
Without a doubt
Certainly or undeniably
Without a doubt, the team has exceeded all expectations on this project.
Without fail
Always or every time
The reports must be submitted by Friday, without fail, to avoid any delays.
