# I can't get no satisfaction... but if I were, would it be 'with' or 'of?' **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 29, 2003, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-get-no-satisfaction-but-if-i-were-would-it-be-with-or-of/221524 "2003-12-29T04:33:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-get-no-satisfaction-but-if-i-were-would-it-be-with-or-of/221524/1 "2003-12-29T04:33:36Z")
There’s a sign at work that says “We guarantee your satisfaction of our products and customer service.” That just seems WRONG to me. The way it feels to me is that satisfaction _of_ would imply action on the part of the person doing the satisfying. “I demand satisfaction of our disagreement, sir. We meet at dawn.” The “you” in that sentence would be making sure that the “products” were satisfied. Does that make sense? Whereas satisfaction _with_ implies action on the part of the object. “I am satisfied with your apology. I retract my offer to duel.” And the “products” would satisfy the “you.” Am I right? Am I wrong? Is there a hard and fast rule governing the use of “satisfaction with” vs. “satisfaction of?” Can you rephrase my preceding paragraph using the proper terms so it makes better sense? ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-get-no-satisfaction-but-if-i-were-would-it-be-with-or-of/221524/2 "2003-12-29T04:42:17Z")
I’m a huge dork. Fifteen minutes after posting this I realize that my oh-so-clever title is STUPID. “… but if i COULD.” ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-get-no-satisfaction-but-if-i-were-would-it-be-with-or-of/221524/3 "2003-12-29T04:44:57Z")
I agree with you. One is satisfied **with** something, not of it. However, a satisfaction can be “of” something. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-get-no-satisfaction-but-if-i-were-would-it-be-with-or-of/221524/4 "2003-12-29T04:48:39Z")
As far as I know each of the three meanings is used in only one way: gratification,pleasure, contentment **satisfaction with**. Let me express my satisfaction with this piece of pie. vindication, compensation **satisfaction of**. Here is the money in satisfaction of my pie tab. assurance, conviction **satisfaction**. It has been proven to my satisfaction that this is great pie. ---
**Author:** ![KP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a9adbd/32.png) [@KP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-get-no-satisfaction-but-if-i-were-would-it-be-with-or-of/221524/5 "2003-12-30T20:41:19Z")
Dear Sirs, Enclosed please find the receipt, original packaging, warranty cards, complaint forms, and accessory kit (minus attachment A15 “the King Kong”) for two (2) Pleasure-All 3000 Marital Aids. I would appreciate an immediate refund. I purchased the items for the “satisfaction of” my wife and girlfriend, but I was rather distressed to learn that your guarantee was not as misworded as I had assumed. It seems that the “satisfaction of” your product is indeed guaranteed. On first use, it gratified itself [quite loudly] 4 or 5 times, impregnated my wife, and nearly burned down the apartment I rented for my girlfriend when it went into ‘sleep mode’ while smoking a cigarette. I am unable to return the appliances themselves, or the certificates for the free training seminars, because they have disappeared, along with my wife and girlfriend. I have reason to believe that all of the above will be arriving at your site soon, by separate transport. Sign me, A dissatisfied customer