Prepositional phrases are everywhere in English — in emails, meetings, and everyday communication, yet they are often overlooked (= ignored) and misused by English learners.

In this article, we’ll cover 10 of the most useful prepositional phrases for working professionals, with real examples and tips to help you use them correctly.

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1. Depends on

We use “depends on” when something is controlled or influenced by a factor. It’s one of the most common phrases in business English.

Examples:

The timeline depends on the client’s feedback.

It depends on how many people are available.

💡 Quick tip: Don’t say “depends of” or “depends from” — it’s always depends on. This is one of the most common mistakes even at advanced level.

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2. Apart from

Use “apart from” to mean “except for” or “in addition to.” It works in both positive and negative contexts, which makes it very flexible.

Examples:

Apart from the budget issue, everything looks good.

Apart from fixing the bug, we also need to update the documentation.

💡 Quick tip: “Apart from” is very similar to “besides” — “besides” is just a little more informal.

Note that “besides” doesn’t need a preposition: Besides the cost… / Apart from the cost…

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3. Due to

“Due to” explains the reason for something. It’s more formal than “because of” and is very common in written English — reports, emails, and announcements.

Examples:

The meeting was postponed due to a scheduling conflict.

Due to high demand, we’ve extended the deadline.

💡 Quick tip: “Due to” is followed by a noun or noun phrase — not a full clause. ✅ Due to the delay / ❌ Due to we were delayed.

If you want to use a full clause, use “because”: Because we were delayed, the deadline shifted.

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4. Leading up to

Use “leading up to” to describe the period of time before an event or deadline. It’s great for talking about preparation and progress.

Examples:

There were several issues leading up to the product launch.

In the weeks leading up to the conference, the team was working overtime.

💡 Quick tip: “Leading up to” always refers to time, not cause. Don’t use it to explain why something happened — use “due to” or “because of” for that.

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5. As opposed to

“As opposed to” is a clear way to contrast two things. It’s stronger and more precise than just saying “but.”

Examples:

We need a long-term solution, as opposed to a quick fix.

The client prefers weekly calls, as opposed to email updates.

💡 Quick tip: Use “as opposed to” when the contrast is your main point. If you just want to add a side note, “rather than” or “instead of” sounds more natural.

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6. In charge of

“In charge of” means responsible for managing or overseeing something.

Examples:

She’s in charge of onboarding new employees.

Who’s in charge of this project?

💡 Quick tip: “In charge of” and “responsible for” are often interchangeable, but “in charge of” implies more direct control or authority. Use “responsible for” when listing duties in a CV or job description.

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7. In line with

“In line with” means consistent with, or following a standard, rule, or expectation. You’ll hear it often in corporate and formal communication.

Examples:

The new policy is in line with industry standards.

Please make sure your report is in line with the template.

💡 Quick tip: In less formal contexts, you can use the phrase “aligned with”, which means the same thing.

For example: Is this aligned with our goals?

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8. Regardless of

“Regardless of” means the result stays the same, no matter what.

Examples:

We’ll proceed regardless of the testing outcomes.

Regardless of your experience, everyone is welcome to apply.

💡 Quick tip: Don’t say “irregardless” — it’s not standard English, even though you may hear it. Stick with regardless of.

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9. In terms of

Use “in terms of” when you want to narrow down (= define) what you’re talking about. Think of it as a way of saying “speaking about”.

Examples:

In terms of cost, the second option is better.

How are we doing in terms of user retention?

💡 Quick tip: “In terms of” is a great phrase for focusing attention in a conversation or presentation. Just don’t overuse it. If every sentence starts with “in terms of,” it starts to sound like filler.

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10. Reschedule for / Reschedule to

Use “reschedule for” or “reschedule to” when you’re moving an event to a new date or time.

Examples:

Can we reschedule the call for Thursday?

The meeting has been rescheduled to 3 PM.

💡 Quick tip: Both “reschedule for” and “reschedule to” are correct, but they’re used slightly differently. Use “for” when you’re proposing or confirming a new time (Can we reschedule for Monday?), and “to” when you’re stating where the event has moved (It’s been rescheduled to 4 PM).

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Want to practise using these phrases in real conversations?

Check out our course English For Tech — designed for working professionals who want to communicate with more confidence and precision at work.

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