Beginner (A1-A2)
Lesson 1: Prepositions of Place & Position1 Exam-
Lesson 2: Prepositions of Movement & Direction1 Exam
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Lesson 3: Prepositions of Time1 Exam
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Lesson 4: Everyday Connectors (by, with, of, for, about)1 Exam
- Intermediate (B1-B2)Lesson 5: Position & Comparison1 Exam
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Lesson 6: Movement & Path1 Exam
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Lesson 7: Time & Duration1 Exam
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Lesson 8: Contrast & Cause1 Exam
- Advanced (C1-C2)Lesson 9: Formal & Academic Prepositions1 Exam
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Lesson 10: Logical & Reference Relations1 Exam
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Lesson 11: Rare & Literary Prepositions1 Exam
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At advanced level, the right preposition signals register. These formal prepositions belong to academic writing, business correspondence, and IELTS Band 8–9 responses: regarding, concerning, owing to, in lieu of, notwithstanding, and pending. Used well, they make your English precise and professional; overused, they can sound stiff — so this lesson shows you exactly when each fits.
Regarding vs concerning
Both introduce a topic and mean roughly “about”. Regarding is slightly more neutral; concerning can sound a touch more formal or official.
- I would like to speak to you regarding my homework.
- I have some questions concerning your decision.
In everyday speech, plain about is usually better. Save regarding/concerning for written, formal contexts.
Owing to vs due to
Both mean “because of”. The traditional rule: due to follows the verb to be (it modifies a noun); owing to introduces a reason more freely, often at the start of a sentence, and cannot follow be.
- We didn’t go swimming, owing to the cold weather.
- The cancellation was due to the cold weather.
Formal prepositions in detail
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| regarding | about (a topic) | I’m writing regarding your order. |
| concerning | about (slightly more formal) | Your teacher talked to me concerning your homework. |
| owing to | because of | Owing to the rain, the match was postponed. |
| in lieu of | instead of / in place of | Can I pay in euros in lieu of dollars? |
| notwithstanding | in spite of, despite | Notwithstanding the low price, I don’t want it. |
| pending | while awaiting / until | We cannot supply you pending payment. |
A special case: notwithstanding
Notwithstanding is unusual because it can appear before or after its noun:
- They went swimming, notwithstanding the rain. (before)
- They went swimming, the rain notwithstanding. (after)
Common mistakes to avoid
- ❌ The delay was owing to traffic. → ✅ The delay was due to traffic. (after be, use due to)
- ❌ in lieu of of payment → ✅ in lieu of payment
- ❌ Using concerning in casual speech → prefer about when speaking informally.
💡 IELTS tip
In IELTS Writing Task 2, one well-placed formal preposition lifts your tone: “Notwithstanding these benefits, several risks remain.” But don’t stack them — examiners reward natural, accurate range, not a parade of formal words.
FAQ
What does “in lieu of” mean?
It means “instead of” or “in place of”. It is formal and appears mainly in writing: time off in lieu of payment.
Is “regarding” or “concerning” more formal?
They are very close. Concerning can sound marginally more formal or official, but both are formal compared with about. Choose by rhythm and context.
Related on Simply IELTS
- ➡️ Continue: Lesson 10: Logical & Reference Relations
- 📚 Part of the Prepositions in English course.
- 🔗 Related: IELTS Writing Task 2 course.
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