Cool MateBy vs Per
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
By
High-frequency chunkA1preposition
Per
Top 1,000 (very common)A2preposition
| By | Per | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/baɪ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/baɪ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/pə(r)//pɜː(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pər//pɜːr/"]/ |
| Meaning | near or beside something | for each or by means of. |
| Example | The book was written by a famous author. | Rooms cost £50 per person, per night. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | High-frequency chunk | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | A2 |
| Part of speech | preposition | preposition |
| Collocations | by the way, by chance, by bus | per person, per day, per month, per the agreement |
| Antonyms | away from, against | excluding, less than |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'beside' — 'by' indicates proximity, 'beside' indicates being directly next to., Using 'by' to mean 'with' in contexts like 'by giving' instead of 'by using' or 'by means of'. | 'Per' is sometimes confused with 'by', especially in informal contexts., 'Per' is often improperly used with plural nouns (e.g., 'per items' instead of 'per item')., Learners may forget to follow 'per' with a clear noun or amount. |
| Usage notes | Used to indicate location, proximity, or the means of doing something. Often used in expressions of time, such as 'by Monday'. Avoid in formal writing when a more specific term can be used. | Use 'per' when giving rates or amounts, like 'per hour' or referencing a rule, like 'as per your request'. It’s formal and often appears in written English. |
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Frequently asked questions: By vs Per
What's the difference between By and Per?
By: near or beside something Per: for each or by means of.
Which is more advanced: By and Per?
Per is the highest level, at A2, on the CEFR scale.
Are By and Per the same CEFR level?
By: A1, Per: A2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are By and Per?
By: preposition, Per: preposition.
Can you show an example of each?
By: The book was written by a famous author. Per: Rooms cost £50 per person, per night.
Can I use By and Per interchangeably?
Not always. By and Per are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.