Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[jasonlulu_2000]

1 If you really have to leave during the meeing, you'd better leave ___ the back door.
the answer is by. But isn't "through" a better answer? I think "by" is used in the following situation. "He walked by me without speaking."

2 A great man shows his greatness ___ the way he treats little men.
The answer given is "by".
But I think "way" is often collocated with "in" . Am I right?

Thanks

[Bob S.]

"By" as a preposition can mean "next to" for positional reference as in He walked by me. But "by" can also refer to the method something is done. For example, We traveled by car instead of by plane.

Therefore, in your example #1, through does work and would sound fine, but by also works to show the method by which you'd better leave.

The same with your example #2. In the way or by the way both work in this sentence. Though it is not an absolute rule, you will commonly hear "by" when talking about general ideas and "in" when talking about something specific. For example:
People will know your education level by the way you speak.
I can identify your regional accent in the way you trill your "R"s.
_________________
"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper

[jasonlulu_2000]

Many thanks.