Formal prepositional phrases: in the event of / on the basis of / with a view to (C1 Grammar)
Formal writing swaps everyday words for set phrases. Reach for these in notices, contracts, reports and academic prose — in speech you would just say if, without or despite. There is no rule to work out: the exact words travel together, so learn each phrase as one piece. In the event of means "if". In the absence of means "without", but only for something you would have expected to be there: in the absence of evidence, in the absence of an agreement (never "in the absence of my coat"). In the face of means "confronted with", and it takes something difficult — protests, criticism, mounting losses. Note that it does not settle how things turned out: you can hold firm in the face of opposition or collapse in the face of it.
Fixed formal phrases: learn them whole
In the event of an emergency, exit immediately.
The decision was made in the absence of clear data.
The project succeeded in the face of serious setbacks.
Not "In the event for budget cuts, we will pause hiring." — say "In the event of budget cuts, we will pause hiring.". The phrase is fixed: in the event of, never "in the event for".
Try it: A formal notice: ___ a power failure, the backup system activates automatically. (In the event of / In the event for / In event of) Answer: In the event of — The fixed phrase is in the event of, learned whole. "In the event for" swaps in the wrong small word. "In event of" drops the the that belongs inside the phrase. The set words always travel together, and the register signals a formal notice.
More fixed phrases: reason and basis
These set phrases give a reason or a basis, and they belong to formal registers — a report says a finding rests on the basis of the data where a conversation would just say based on or because of. Again the small words inside are fixed: on the basis of (based on), in the light of (considering; American writing usually drops the the and writes in light of), on the grounds of (because of), in accordance with (following). Learn the whole phrase, the small word included. On the grounds of is the fussiest: it is legal and official, and it takes a formal justification — ill health, cost, national security — not an everyday reason ("late on the grounds of traffic" does not work). Before a clause it becomes on the grounds that.
Conclusions were drawn on the basis of the survey data.
In the light of new evidence, the plan was revised.
Research was conducted in accordance with ethical guidelines.
Not "We acted in accordance to the rules." — say "We acted in accordance with the rules.". The fixed phrase is in accordance with, never "in accordance to".
Try it: The claim was rejected ___ the data, which did not support it. (on the basis of / on the basis to / on basis of) Answer: on the basis of — The fixed phrase is on the basis of, learned whole. "On the basis to" swaps in the wrong small word. "On basis of" drops the the that sits inside the phrase. These phrases work by memory, not by a rule you can derive.
Formal phrases for purpose and method
Two more formal phrases, each with its own job. With a view to answers why: it means "in order to" and is followed by an -ing form, never a base verb — with a view to improving. The to here is a preposition, not the start of an infinitive, which is why the verb takes -ing. By means of answers how: it means "by using" and is followed by a noun or an -ing form — by means of a survey. Reach for these in formal or academic writing where speech would simply say to and by.
The policy was introduced with a view to reducing waste.
The data was gathered by means of an anonymous survey.
They resolved the dispute by means of arbitration rather than the courts.
Not "The reforms were introduced with a view to reduce costs." — say "The reforms were introduced with a view to reducing costs.". After with a view to, use the -ing form (reducing), never the base verb — the to is a preposition, not an infinitive marker.
Try it: With a view to answers why ("in order to"). Which one keeps the fixed phrase? (The policy was introduced with a view to improving efficiency. / The policy was introduced with a view of improving efficiency. / The policy was introduced with a view to improve efficiency.) Answer: The policy was introduced with a view to improving efficiency. — The fixed phrase is with a view to + an -ing form: with a view to improving. "With a view of" swaps in the wrong small word. "With a view to improve" uses the base verb, but the to here is a preposition, so the verb keeps its -ing form: improving.
Try it: A methods section: The samples were analyzed ___ a high-resolution scanner. (by means of / by mean of / with means of) Answer: by means of — The fixed phrase is by means of + a noun, learned whole: by means of a scanner. "By mean of" drops the s that belongs in the phrase. "With means of" swaps in the wrong small word. By means of tells the reader how something was done, in a formal register.
A fixed phrase for a stretch of time
In the course of means during or throughout: it frames something as happening inside a stretch of time — in the course of the investigation, in the course of the next quarter. It needs a period or a lasting activity, never a single moment, so a report says in the course of the audit but never "in the course of nine o'clock". The small words are fixed like the others here, so learn it whole: never "in course of", never "in the course for".
In the course of the next quarter, we will implement Phase One.
Several problems emerged in the course of the review.
Both sides made concessions in the course of the negotiations.
Not "In course of the audit, three errors came to light." — say "In the course of the audit, three errors came to light.". The the belongs inside the phrase: in the course of.
Try it: A project report: ___ the trial, participants recorded their symptoms daily. (In the course of / In course of / In the course for) Answer: In the course of — The fixed phrase is in the course of, meaning during: the trial is a stretch of time and the daily recording happens inside it. "In course of" drops the the that belongs in the phrase, and "In the course for" swaps in the wrong small word.
Try it: An audit note: All payments were approved ___ the finance policy. (in accordance with / by means of / in the face of) Answer: in accordance with — Following a rule is complying with it, so the phrase is in accordance with. "By means of" names the instrument something was done with, and a policy is a set of rules rather than a tool. "In the face of" introduces something difficult you are confronted by, which a policy the auditors follow is not.