Replacement for and replacement of

Replacement for and replacement of Replacement for and replacement of Replacement for and replacement of By Maeve Maddox Prepositions and particles are tricky in any language. Its not an easy matter to explain why some words are followed by to while others are followed by in or for. The native speaker just knows. Recently, Ive noticed the use of to with the word replacement where Id expect for or of. Homeopathy as replacement to antibiotics†¦ Offers a cost effective replacement to broken parcel shelf string†¦ i have lost 12v ac 2.4 power adapter when moving home and am looking for a replacement to said item†¦ The two most frequent meanings of replacement are a person who or thing which replaces another; a substitute. The action or an act of replacing something When replacement is used in the first sense, its synonymous with substitute. For that reason, for is the obvious choice: I need a replacement for my windshield wiper. We need a replacement for Mr. Jones the math teacher. It seems to me that in all three of the examples given above, for is the obvious choice: Homeopathy as a replacement (substitute) for antibiotics†¦ cost effective replacement (substitute) for broken parcel shelf string†¦ looking for a replacement (substitute) for said item. Used in the second sense, replacement is followed by of. Requests for the issuance or replacement of military service medals†¦ Operations involve either metal pinning with screws and/or plates or replacement of the hip joint with artificial parts†¦ Thats not to say that to must never follow the word replacement. The word is often followed by an infinitive: Sansoms replacement to be decided today†¦ SMPT gateway replacement to make mail testing easier Sometimes replacement is followed by a prepositional phrase beginning with to: Procedure now calls for the mayor to nominate a replacement to the board†¦ Budget woes delay shuttle replacement to 2015 However, in these examples, the to phrases do not qualify replacement; they modify the verbs: the shuttle replacement is being delayed to 2015; the mayors choice will be nominated to the board. Whats the consensus? Is replacement to instead of replacement for a regional thing, or an aberration? Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Possessive of Proper Names Ending in S50 Idioms About Arms, Hands, and FingersPersonification vs. Anthropomorphism