🧠 TOEIC Trap: By vs With — Who Did It vs How It Was Done

You see:

The message was written ___ the manager.

Two options: by or with.
Both sound fine. Only one gets the point.

TOEIC uses this because most test-takers choose by “feel.”
But this trap isn’t about sound — it’s about focus.

🎯 Why TOEIC Wins This Point

By and with both fit in passive sentences.
The difference?

  • By → tells you who did the action.

  • With → tells you what was used to do it.

💣 The One-Second Trigger

Ask:

“Is this about a person or a tool?”

  • Person → by

  • Tool / object → with

👇 Watch It in Action

✅ Correct

The report was prepared by the assistant.
(Person = who did it) → by

✅ Correct

The proposal was printed with the colour printer.
(Tool used to do it) → with

✅ Correct

The contract was signed by the director.
(Person = who did it) → by

✅ Correct

The photos were taken with a smartphone.
(Tool used) → with

🧪 TOEIC-Style Practice

The announcement was made ___ the CEO.
🧠 CEO = person → by

The invoice was created ___ accounting software.
🧠 Software = tool → with

The documents were approved ___ the manager.
🧠 Manager = person → by

The presentation was prepared ___ PowerPoint.
🧠 PowerPoint = tool → with

📝 Your Turn

Fill each blank with by or with.
Use the one-second check: person → by / tool → with.

  1. The memo was signed ___ the HR director.

  2. The email was sent ___ a shared account.

  3. The decision was made ___ the board of directors.

  4. The sketch was drawn ___ a digital tablet.

Answer Key + Coaching

  1. ✅ by — HR director = person

  2. ✅ with — shared account = tool/source used

  3. ✅ by — board of directors = people doing the action

  4. ✅ with — digital tablet = tool used

🔁 Takeaway Rule

In passive sentences, don’t trust your ear — trust the logic.

  • Who did it? → by

  • What was used? → with

Final Word

TOEIC hides this trap in simple, familiar sentences.
One quick “person or tool” check, and you take the point every time.

For more strategies and resources to master TOEIC word-choice traps, visit the English Library Collection and start locking in sentence-focus confidence today.

🧠 SEO FAQ — By vs With What is the difference between “by” and “with”? “By” shows who did the action. “With” shows what was used to do the action. When should I use “by” in a sentence? Use “by” when you’re talking about a person or group that did something. Example: The report was written by the manager. When should I use “with”? Use “with” when you want to show the tool, method, or thing that helped do the action. Example: The report was written with a laptop. Can I use “by” and “with” in the same sentence? Yes. Example: The photo was taken by the assistant with a smartphone. Why does TOEIC test “by” and “with”? Because many learners mix them up. TOEIC checks if you know the difference between who did it and what was used. Is “with” always used for tools? Usually yes. “With” shows the object or method used to do something. Is “by” only used with people? “By” is mostly used for people, teams, or companies that take action. It’s common in passive voice. Can I say “The email was sent with the client”? Not usually. That sounds like the client was included. If the client sent it, say “by the client.” Is it correct to say “by using a pen”? Yes, but that’s a different structure. “By using a pen” means how something was done. “With a pen” is more common and simpler. How can I know which one is correct in TOEIC questions? Check the focus of the sentence. Is it about who did the action? → use “by”. Is it about what was used? → use “with”.
A colour image of a Japanese man struggling to study for the TOEIC test late at night