Common mistakes
Of and off: spelling, sound, and meaning
The words of and off differ by one letter, but they do different jobs in a sentence. The extra f changes both the sound and the meaning.
Choose of or off correctly when you describe connection, amount, removal, or movement away.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
of / off /əv/ or /ɒv/ / /ɒf/
The short answer
Use of to show a relationship, amount, material, or part. Use off for separation, removal, or movement away from something.
She poured a cup of tea, then took the lid off the jar.
Why it works: Of connects cup with tea. Off says that the lid was removed from the jar.
4 more examples
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The cover of the book is blue.
Of links the cover to the book that it belongs to.
Not this:The cover
off the bookis blue. What changes: Off does not show possession here. It would suggest that the cover has been removed. -
Please take your shoes off before you enter.
Off means that the shoes should be removed.
Not this:Please take your
shoes ofbefore you enter. What changes: Of cannot follow take with this meaning. The phrase needs off. -
We need two litres of milk for the recipe.
Of introduces the thing being measured.
Not this:We need two
litres off milkfor the recipe. What changes: Off makes no sense after a quantity in this sentence. -
The child jumped off the step.
Off shows movement away from the surface of the step.
Not this:The child jumped
of the step. What changes: Of cannot express movement away from a surface.
Read the full guide
Check the meaning first. If the sentence needs the idea of belonging, amount, or part, choose of. If something leaves a surface or stops being connected, choose off.
Use of to connect ideas
Of usually connects one noun with another noun. It can show what something belongs to, what it contains, or which part you mean. In the name of the street, of links the name and the street.
A slice of bread was still on the plate.
Use off for separation
Off gives the idea of leaving a surface or ending a connection. It often follows a verb. You can take a label off a bottle, get off a bus, or switch off a light.
He wiped the paint off his hands.
Listen for the final sound
Of is often unstressed. In a phrase such as one of us, the vowel may become very short. Off keeps its final f sound, so turn it off sounds different from the name of it.
Of links: the colour of the wall. Off separates: the picture fell off the wall.
Check common verb phrases
Many everyday verbs use off. Turn off means stop a machine or light. Take off can mean remove clothing, and get off can mean leave a bus, train, or bicycle. Learn these as phrases.
Could you turn off the radio while I make this call?
Choose the word from the meaning
You want to describe a page that has come away from a notebook. Which word fits after fell?
Use off: The page fell off the notebook. The page moved away from where it was attached.
Before you go
Remember this
Use of to connect nouns and show relationships or amounts. Use off when something is removed, moves away, or stops operating. Read the whole sentence before you choose the word.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Of and off: spelling, sound, and meaning"
What is the main difference between of and off?
Of connects nouns and can show possession, amount, part, or material. Off usually means away from a surface, place, or activity.
The cover of the book is blue.
Is of a preposition?
Yes. Of is a preposition. It often introduces a noun phrase, as in a cup of tea, the door of the car, or a piece of paper.
The cover off the book is blue.
Why is off used after take?
Take off is a common verb phrase meaning remove. You can take off a coat, shoes, a label, or a lid, depending on the object.
Please take your shoes off before you enter.
How do you pronounce of and off?
Of is often pronounced /əv/ in ordinary speech. Off has a stronger final f sound and is /ɒf/ in standard British pronunciation.
Please take your shoes of before you enter.
Can off mean that a machine has stopped?
Yes. If a light, phone, or oven is off, it is not operating. Use turn off when someone makes the device stop operating.
We need two litres of milk for the recipe.
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