3

In OAAD, there's an example for the entry moderator:

moderators of online discussion groups

But I've seen the preposition for used in that context by native speakers too. Are they both correct? Or does it have something to do with different dialects?

Searching Google yields the following result:

  • Moderator for: About 1,980,000 results
  • Moderator of: About 6,000,000 results

So, the preposition of is more common. Is that the only difference?

Improve this question
1
  • 1
    English prepositions aren't always meaningful, and in some expressions, it's possible to substitute without changing the meaning. British and American English don't always use the same prepositions: at the weekend vs. on/during/over the weekend, e.g. More important with the phrase "X is {a/the} moderator {for/of} this site" is the article: the means there's only one, but a means there are at least two. I don't think it's possible to make any reasonable inference about the number of moderators based on the usage of of or for. I could be wrong, though.
    – user21497
    Jan 25, 2013 at 9:59

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
1

I would say that "Moderator for" is referencing the main or only moderator for a site, while "Moderator of" indicates that this is just one of several moderators at a site.

Improve this answer
0

I used to be a moderator for the site boards.ie

When I was, I was moderator of the Paganism, English, Programming, and Sex & Sexuality forums.

The first statement expresses the relationship that rôle had to the site. The second, the relationship that rôle had to particular forums.

The two could overlap. For a while I had responsibilities relating to the entirety of the site, so it would have been correct both to say I was a moderator for the site, and a moderator of the site.

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.